Seventy-two virus cases, including 69 local infections, were registered in the Kingdom on Thursday, increasing the caseload to 2,233, the government announced.

The local cases included 41 infections in Amman, of which 31 are contacts of COVID-19 patients, while the sources of infection of 10 other patients are under investigation. 

Among the domestic infections are 13 cases in Zarqa, 12 in Balqa, in addition to a case in Irbid, who all are contacts of COVID-19 positive persons , according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Health Ministry.

Among the local cases were two individuals who tested positive in Ajloun, whose source of infection is under investigation.

The cases from abroad comprised three individuals, who have been in quarantine at designated hotels.

On Wednesday night, a woman in her 70s died of coronavirus, increasing the Kingdom’s virus death toll to 16, the statement added.

Meanwhile, 38 recovered patients left hospitals on Thursday, 32 from Prince Hamzah Hospital, five from the Dead Sea quarantine sites designated for people tested positive for COVID-19 and a case from Queen Alia Military Hospital.

The statement also added that the epidemiological investigation teams conducted 11,242 random tests nationwide on Thursday, which is a "record number” for a single day, increasing the total number of tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic in the Kingdom to 861,330. 

The comprehensive curfew hours, imposed in Amman and Zarqa, will start at 11pm on Thursday until 11pm on Friday in light of the increasing number of infections in the two governorates, while curfew hours will remain the same in the rest of the governorates.

Holders of e-permits are not allowed to move during the comprehensive curfew in Amman and Zarqa, except for a limited number of workers in vital sectors.

Amid the growing number of local infections, the Ministry of Health has renewed its call on the public to abide by Defence Order No.11 and adhere to precautionary measures, mainly wearing face masks and maintaining physical distancing and avoiding holding gatherings that exceed 20 people.

The ministry also highlighted the "Aman” (Safety) application for smartphones, which alerts users if they come into contact with a positive virus individual, as well as "Sahtak” (your health) application, which provides users with the latest information and news related to the COVID-19 disease, in addition to guidelines and warnings pertaining to the Kingdom’s epidemiological status