Nayrouz News Agency : Sixty-eight COVID-19 cases, including 46 local infections, were registered in the Kingdom on Monday, increasing the caseload to 2,034, according to Health Minister Saad Jaber.

The local cases included 42 in Amman, of which 40 are contacts of COVID-19 patients and the sources of infection of two individuals are under investigation. Four domestic infections were also recorded in Zarqa,

The 22 cases from abroad were registered at Dead Sea quarantine sites, Jaber added during a press briefing at the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management. 

Meanwhile, 43 recoveries were reported over the past 24 hours from Prince Hamzah Hospital, increasing the total number of recoveries to 1,525, leaving 456 still receiving treatment in hospitals, he said.

The health minister noted that the Kingdom has registered 664 local cases since August 7, adding that epidemiological investigation teams on Monday conducted a total of 9,209 random virus tests nationwide, increasing the total number of tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic to 828,380.

Also speaking at the presser, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said that the isolation of Sahab will end on Tuesday at 6am, noting that the district will observe curfew hours like other regions in the Kingdom.

The government will focus on applying Defence Order No. 8, which is tied to protecting public health and limiting the spread of the coronavirus, over the coming days and hold accountable all those who jeopardise their health, their families and society through spreading the infection, Adaileh added.

The minister reminded the public that violators of Defence Order No. 8 face imprisonment terms of up to three years or a fine of JD3,000 or both.

Applying these penalties does not prevent applying other stiffener penalties mentioned in any other law. 

Ahead of the beginning of the new scholastic year, the minister called on parents to raise their children's awareness regarding precautionary measures.