Forty-four COVID-19 deaths and 3,088 virus cases were recorded in the Kingdom on Wednesday, increasing the caseload to 250,219, the government announced.

The reported fatalities took the Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll to 3,206, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The local cases comprised 898 infections in Amman, 126 in Zarqa, 1,071 in Irbid, including 233 in Ramtha district, 37 in Maan, including nine in Petra, 53 in Aqaba, 172 in Ajloun, 90 in Madaba, 216 in Balqa, 132 in Karak, 135 in Mafraq, 64 in Tafileh and 94 in Jerash.

A total of 163 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals on Wednesday, making the number of cases receiving treatment in hospitals to stand at 1,378, with 44 per cent occupied ICU beds, the statement said, adding that 160 recovered patients left hospitals.

The statement also said that 5,000 people left hospitals and recovered in home quarantine, bringing the total number of recoveries to 202,058. 

A total of 23,420 virus tests were also conducted on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered to 2,755,299, with the share of tests returning a positive result, known as positive rate, standing at 13.19 per cent, the statement added. 

Amid the growing number of local infections, the Ministry of Health has renewed its call on the public to abide by defence orders, as well as to adhere to precautionary measures, mainly wearing face masks and avoiding holding gatherings that exceed 20 people.

The ministry also called on the public to follow its "I Protect Them” awareness campaign, which aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through increasing public commitment to preventive measures to protect individuals, their families and society members