Nayrouz News Agency : The government decided to impose a three-day comprehensive curfew from Thursday midnight to Sunday midnight, when citizens will not be allowed to leave their homes at all, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said on Wednesday.

During a press briefing at the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management, Adaileh said that the decision came in light of epidemiological developments in the Kingdom, as the number of infections increased significantly during the past days.

The decision was further prompted by the need to increase the efforts of epidemiological inspection teams and the need to limit meetings and contact between individuals and take the necessary measures to achieve physical distancing, he said.

Medical and nursing cadres in the public and private sectors, epidemiological inspection teams and a limited number of staff required to sustain the work of some vital institutions are excluded from the curfew, he added.

The hours during which citizens are allowed to leave their homes on Wednesday and Thursday have been extended until 11pm according to the mechanism currently in place and according to the even-odd system in the governorates where it is currently in place, he said, adding that this decision includes commercial establishments.

According to Adaileh, as of Monday, May 25, the situation will return to its current state, and matters will be subject to evaluation and review according to developments in the epidemiological situation.

In light of the many inquiries the government has received regarding the resumption of work for public sector employees starting on Tuesday, the Civil Service Bureau has circulated the procedures that must be followed when beginning the gradual resumption of work.

These procedures include preparing a plan for resuming work at a given department or institution’s main branch and its branches and offices in the governorates, to ensure a smooth and organised return to work that takes into account public safety requirements.

Procedures also include returning employees to the workplace in three batches according to the percentages determined by the concerned minister and government decisions issued based on developments in the Kingdom’s epidemiological situation.

Female employees and employees included in the first stage will resume work after the Eid Al Fitr holiday.

The employees who are to return in the first and second stages are determined according to the priorities of services, activities and tasks approved by the institution.

It is "essential” that the plan be flexible and take into account changes in any of the decisions issued regarding the resumption of work in government departments and institutions, Adaileh said.

Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz also issued Defence Order No. 12 to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, including severe penalties for violators of instructions and fines ranging between JD100 and JD1,000 .

Defence Law No. 12 included the following:

First: Amending the penalty stated in Defence Order No. 3 established against anyone who violates the decision to prohibit the movement of people in all regions of the Kingdom and the communications issued pursuant thereto to become as follows:

1. A fine of no less than JD100 and no more than JD500, will be imposed for first-time violations. No prosecution will take place if the offender pays the minimum fine within a week of the date of the violation.

2. A fine of no less than JD200 and no more than JD1,000 will be imposed in the event of repeat offence.

Second: Vehicles used in first-time violations during the curfew will be impounded for a period of 30 days. A decision from the concerned authority may return the seized vehicle after the violator or owner provides receipt of the fines resulting from the violation of the curfew order, pledges not to repeat the offence and provides a receipt proving payment of its transfer fees or retention fees, if any.