Gardens Hospital was rented by the government to be allocated for receiving COVID-19 patients, according to Minister of State for Media Affairs Ali Al Ayed. 

Speaking during a joint press briefing at the Prime Ministry with Minister of Health Nathir Obeidat, Ayed said that the move will enhance the health system by providing 180 ward beds and 140 ICU beds. 

Reviewing the government’s efforts amid the pandemic, Ayed, who is also the government spokesperson, said that the government and the private sector have agreed on allocating 1,000 ward beds and 180 ICU beds to receive COVID-19 patients transferred by the government. 

The government also signed an agreement, with a specialised company, to build three field hospitals in Amman, Irbid and Maan, at a capacity of 1,050 ward beds and 180 ICU beds, he added, expressing hope that the construction of the hospitals would be completed within a few weeks.

He also stressed that the number of medical staff, physicians and nurses, have been increased in the public sector to handle the  pandemic.  

Stressing that the ministry, in cooperation with the government, is monitoring the epidemiological indicators, Obeidat said that the Kingdom’s epidemiological situation is witnessing an increase in the number of infections, with no weekly doubling, noting that "coronavirus infections in the Kingdom double every two weeks, and there is no need for immediate severe measures at this level”.

The second indicator is the rate of positive tests, he said, highlighting the increase in the positive tests that could reach 22 per cent. He also said that it is too early to consider this indicator.

Regarding the third indicator, the number of fatalities, the minister said that COVID-19 deaths are not increasing on a daily basis, but they are proportional to the increase of reported infections.

The last indicator is COVID-19-associated hospitalisation rate, he said, noting that 6 per cent of COVID-19 patients need to be hospitalised, which is less than the international hospitalisation rate. 

Highlighting the need for ICU beds, Obeidat said that the Health Ministry will transfer COVID-19 patients to Gardens Hospital by the end of this week, expecting that the three field hospitals will be ready for receiving patients in 30 to 35 days.

He also called on the public to avoid gatherings during the elections, slated for Tuesday.