Minister of State for Media Affairs, Sakher Dudin, said the epidemiological situation, and following precautionary measures that have proven effective globally, is the criterion that the government relies on in deciding to reopen and close sectors, increasing or reducing the blanket and partial curfew.
“The current indicators in the Kingdom show improvement in the epidemiological situation,” Dudin said Wednesday evening in press briefing with a number of ministers at the Prime Ministry.
Dudin, who is also the government official spokesperson, stressed the government’s keenness to implement the royal directives which emphasize the importance of creating a balance between the priority of protecting the citizen’s health, preserving his livelihood and the circle of the economy, pushing it to develop a clear gradual plan to reopen sectors and businesses that extend in time until September with the aim of reaching a safe summer.
Dudin pointed out that the mitigation measures, within this plan, are subject to periodic review in light of the epidemiological situation, the health sector’s ability to deal with the epidemiological situation, and the progress of the vaccination program.
He added that the plan for the gradual reopening of sectors to reach a safe summer is divided into three phases, as the first phase begins in June 1, and includes the gradual reopening of some sectors and businesses, and procedures to regulate the entry of those coming from outside the Kingdom.
He further added that the second phase begins in July 1, and will include reducing the curfew hours, and measures to stimulate tourism, especially in the Golden Triangle, in the south of the Kingdom, which includes Aqaba, Petra, Wadi Rum and Deesi camps, explaining that there will be additional health requirements to visit this area with the aim of restoring tourism and economic activity there to pre-pandemic levels.
In the second phase – according to Dudin – the work of public sector employees will be back by 100 percent, and there will be a gradual return to in-class education in colleges of higher education for specializations determined by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in accordance with health requirements, foremost of which is receiving vaccinations.
Dudin said that the third phase begins in September 1, through which the government aims to return to most aspects of normal life before the pandemic, as the curfew will be canceled in all its forms and in all governorates, and the return of in-class education in schools and universities, and allowing most sectors and businesses to work in all times and at full capacity.
He noted that the implementation of the phases of the plan to reach a safe summer, will include issuing necessary circulars and defense orders to implement its procedures.
The Minister of State for Media Affairs reaffirmed that all measures included in the plan will be subject to review and evaluation in light of the developments in the epidemiological situation, and any of its items and phases may be modified according to the epidemiological situation locally or globally, pointing out that this will be announced in full transparency.
Dudin indicated that the detailed document of the plan to reach a safe summer will be published today, to be available to the media and citizens, in addition to organizing meetings for the concerned ministers with implementing this plan on various media outlets to explain its implementation details, stressing that the government continues to receive any media inquiries via the designated contact number for that.
Source: Jordan News Agency