His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday commended medical personnel’s efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic and its ramifications.

During the inauguration of the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Field Hospital in Aqaba, affiliated with the Ministry of Health and dedicated to receiving COVID-19 patients, King Abdullah paid tribute to medical personnel who sacrificed their lives for the country, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty toured the facility, which has a 216-bed capacity, including 56 intensive care unit beds, and extends over an area of 10,000 square metres.

The King was briefed by Health Minister Nathir Obeidat, who said the field hospital, established through a grant from the UAE, is in line with national priorities to have field hospitals across the Kingdom’s regions to counter the pandemic, and raise public healthcare capacities post-pandemic.

The Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Aqaba Field Hospital is the fifth COVID-19 field hospital to open in Jordan, after two hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health in Amman and Maan, and two military field hospitals in Zarqa and Irbid affiliated with the Royal Medical Services.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Adviser to His Majesty for Policies Haifa Khraisha, and UAE Ambassador to Jordan Ahmed Ali Mohammed Al Balushi attended the inauguration.