Jordan Gradually Returns to Normal Life

FILE PHOTO: Jordanian police officers stand guard as a man waits to get bread in a closed-down part of Al-Nasr area, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
FILE PHOTO: Jordanian police officers stand guard as a man waits to get bread in a closed-down part of Al-Nasr area, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
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Jordan Gradually Returns to Normal Life

FILE PHOTO: Jordanian police officers stand guard as a man waits to get bread in a closed-down part of Al-Nasr area, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
FILE PHOTO: Jordanian police officers stand guard as a man waits to get bread in a closed-down part of Al-Nasr area, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan, April 15, 2020. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

Normal life is gradually returning to Jordan, after a total lockdown in Amman and the Irbid governorate resulted in zero new infections.

The Jordanian government announced on Monday that it would allow private vehicles to circulate on the basis of odd and even numbers, after lifting restrictions on movement and work in different sectors.

The government also allowed the resumption of activities in the public transport at a rate not exceeding 50 percent of the sector’s capacity, according to statements by Information Minister Amjad Al-Adayleh.

The National Committee for Epidemics showed more flexibility in dealing with the curfew hours in the country, allowing the return of work to individual occupations and small businesses.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry and Trade Tareq Al-Hamouri said that activities at the industrial sector could resume at 100 percent of production capacity.

The commercial sector, for its part, expressed surprise at a government decision to maintain the closure of basic service sectors.

Public criticism of the restriction measures in the country is mounting as only 95 cases are still under treatment out of 449 infections recorded in the country.

Life returned to normal in previously isolated areas, especially in the northern Irbid governorate.

The government announced on Monday the closure of the public sector, schools, and universities until the end of the month of Ramadan.

Markets started witnessing an active movement after the reopening of multiple sectors, including restaurants, clothing stores, and a number of direct sales sectors such as mobile phones stores and building materials.



Jordan Describes Shooting near Israeli Embassy as ‘Terrorist Attack’

Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
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Jordan Describes Shooting near Israeli Embassy as ‘Terrorist Attack’

Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak

Jordan described Sunday’s shooting near the heavily fortified Israeli embassy in the capital Amman as a “terrorist attack”.
Jordan's communications minister, Mohamed Momani, said the shooting is a “terrorist attack” that targeted public security forces in the country. He said in a statement that investigations into the incident were under way.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, security sources described the incident as “an individual and isolated act, unrelated to any organized groups”.
The sources added that preliminary investigations indicated that the attacker was “under the influence of drugs”.
A gunman was dead and three Jordanian policemen were injured after the shooting near the Israeli embassy in Sunday's early hours, a security source and state media said.
Police shot a gunman who had fired at a police patrol in the affluent Rabiah neighborhood of the Jordanian capital, the state news agency Petra reported, citing public security, adding investigations were ongoing.
The gunman, who was carrying an automatic weapon, was chased for at least an hour before he was cornered and killed just before dawn, according to a security source.
"Tampering with the security of the nation and attacking security personnel will be met with a firm response," Momani told Reuters, adding that the gunman had a criminal record in drug trafficking.
Jordanian police cordoned off an area near the heavily policed embassy after gunshots were heard, witnesses said. Two witnesses said police and ambulances rushed to the Rabiah district, where the embassy is located.
The area is a flashpoint for frequent demonstrations against Israel.