The second-half of the year 2021 could witness the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world, Health Minister Nathir Obeidat said on Saturday. 

During a meeting with representatives of sectors that are not authorized to operate due to the coronavirus crisis, Obeidat said that the expectations are based on scientific data, including the fact that a big number of people have got infected and developed natural immunity against the virus, in addition to the arrival recently approved COVID vaccines. 

The meeting, held at the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC), was attended by Tourism Minister Nayef Fayez and members of the National Epidemiological Committee.

The health minister highlighted the importance for the public to take the vaccines to support efforts aimed at eliminating the virus, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also said that the ministry is "not in favour” of continuing the closure of the economic sectors, "yet fear and hastiness, especially after the emergence of the new variant of the virus and registering five cases in the Kingdom, make us slow down in the making the decision of opening these closed sectors".

The Health Ministry is scheduled to consider updates within 10 days before taking decisions that accord with the changes, Obeidat said, stressing that if the stable epidemiological conditions in the Kingdom continue, there will be "a breakthrough” in terms of resuming the work of closed sectors.

Fayez said that the Tourism Ministry constantly revises the protocols related to resuming work of sectors in a way that achieves balance between the health and economic aspects. 

ACC President Khalil Haj Tawfiq said that the services sector is among the most affected by the pandemic, calling for lifting the comprehensive lockdown on Fridays in light of "high commitment” to health measures, wearing masks and observing physical distancing.