44 COVID deaths, 2,902 infections recorded Thursday

AMMAN — Forty-four COVID-19 deaths and 2,902 virus cases were recorded in the Kingdom on Thursday, increasing the caseload to 253,121, the government announced.

The new fatalities took the Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll to 3,250, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The cases comprised 967 infections in Amman, 876 in Irbid, including 32 in Ramtha District, 204 in Zarqa, 202 in Mafraq, 182 in Balqa, 180 in Jerash, 96 in Aqaba, 89 in Karak, 40 in Tafileh, 38 in Ajloun, 21 in Maan, including 8 in Petra, and 7 in Madaba.

A total of 159 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals on Thursday, taking the number of patients currently receiving care for COVID-19 in hospitals to 1,319, the statement said, adding that 158 recovered patients left hospitals.

The statement revealed that the number of isolation beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Thursday totalled 1,121, registering an occupancy rate of 26 per cent, while a total of 373 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, at a rate of 42 per cent.

A total of 197 ventilators were used for treating COVID-19 patients, at an occupancy rate of 23 per cent. 

The statement added that 4,580 recoveries were registered in hospitals and home quarantine on Thursday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 206,638.

A total of 22,502 virus tests were also conducted on Thursday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic to 2,777,801, with the share of tests returning a positive result, known as positive rate, standing at 12.9 per cent, the statement added.

Amid the growing number of local infections, 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.

The ministry also called on the public to follow its “I Protect Them” awareness campaign, which aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through increasing public commitment to preventive measures to protect individuals and their beloved ones.