Sixteen COVID-19 deaths and 1,855 virus cases were recorded in the Kingdom on Wednesday, increasing the caseload to 340,177, the government announced.

The new fatalities took the Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll to 4,411, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The cases comprised 1,242 infections in Amman, 168 in Irbid, including 31 in Ramtha District, 39 in Mafraq, 72 in Zarqa, 151 in Balqa, 15 in Madaba, 56 in Karak, 16 in Ajloun, 28 in Aqaba, 23 in Jerash, 21 in Tafileh and 24 cases in Maan, including five in Petra District.

The statement added that there are currently 12,560 active COVID-19 cases in Jordan.

A total of 98 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals on Wednesday, taking the number of patients currently receiving care for COVID-19 in hospitals to 549, the statement said, adding that 54 recovered patients left hospitals.

The statement revealed that the number of isolation beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Tuesday totalled 439, registering an occupancy rate of 11 per cent, while a total of 135 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, at a rate of 15 per cent.

A total of 53 ventilators were used for treating COVID-19 patients, at an occupancy rate of 6 per cent.

The statement added that 1,058 recoveries were registered in hospitals and home quarantine on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 323,206.

A total of 29,541 virus tests were also conducted on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative number of coronavirus tests administered since the outbreak of the pandemic to 4,107,189, with the share of tests returning a positive result, known as positive rate, standing at 6.28 per cent, the statement added.

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, according to the statement.

The ministry also called on the public to follow its awareness campaigns and register for receiving the vaccine.