15 COVID deaths, 2,200 virus cases recorded Saturday

AMMAN — Fifteen COVID-19 deaths and 2,200 virus cases were recorded in the Kingdom on Saturday, increasing the caseload to 359,811, the government announced.

The new fatalities took the Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll to 4,543, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The cases comprised 1,781 infections in Amman, 26 in Irbid, including seven in Ramtha District, 18 in Mafraq, 59 in Zarqa, 184 in Balqa, 34 in Karak, one in Tafileh, 13 in Ajloun, 43 in Aqaba, three in Madaba, 17 in Jerash and 21 in Maan, including two in Petra District.

The statement added that there are currently 21,077 active COVID-19 cases in Jordan.

A total of 195 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals on Saturday, taking the number of patients currently receiving care for COVID-19 in hospitals to 947, the statement said, adding that 96 recovered patients left hospitals.

The statement revealed that the number of isolation beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Friday totalled 734, registering an occupancy rate of 18 per cent, while a total of 187 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, at a rate of 21 per cent.

A total of 75 ventilators were used for treating COVID-19 patients, at an occupancy rate of 8 per cent.

The statement added that 1,299 recoveries were registered in hospitals and home quarantine on Saturday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 334,191.

A total of 18,204 virus tests were also conducted on Saturday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic to 4,346,414, with the share of tests returning a positive result, known as positive rate, standing at 12.09 per cent, the statement added.

The Ministry of Health has renewed its call on the public to abide by defence orders, as well as to adhere to precautionary measures, mainly wearing face masks and avoiding holding gatherings that exceed 20 people, according to the statement.

The ministry also called on the public to follow its awareness campaigns and register for receiving the vaccine.