Days-long, post-election lockdown to start at Tuesday night — circular

AMMAN — The Kingdom will enter a nationwide lockdown from  Tuesday, November 10, starting at 9pm for institutions and 10pm for public movement until 6am Sunday, November 15, according to a circular issued by  Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh.

The days-long nationwide lockdown will be imposed after polling concludes for the 19th parliamentary elections, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In response to a request of the board of commissioners of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), the decision excluded parliamentary candidates, list representatives at polling stations and counting centres, as well as heads and members of the election committees, local and international observers, media representatives and journalists accredited by the IEC until the commission announces the final results and sends them to the Official Gazette.

The decision allows one-hour exemption for worshippers to go to mosques on foot to perform Friday prayer.

The premier had addressed the chairman of the board of commissioners of the IEC to discuss the possibility of imposing a comprehensive curfew, a move, made upon the recommendations of Health Minister Nathir Obeidat and Secretary General of the Ministry of Health for Epidemiology Wael Hayajneh, who is also in charge of overseeing the pandemic situation, aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus, Petra added.

Khasawneh also stressed the government's keenness to support the IEC’s efforts towards holding a successful election.