Jordan to reimpose night curfew after parliamentary elections

This picture taken on October 9, 2020 shows a Jordanian security vehicle enforcing a COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown in the capital Amman. (File/AFP)
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  • The curfew aims to limit the spread of the coronavirus
  • Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday in an election focused on the country's economic crisis

A night curfew will come into effect in Jordan after parliamentary elections on Tuesday, the government announced.

The curfew will start at 9 p.m. for businesses and 10 p.m. for individuals and will end on Sunday November 15 at 6 a.m., state news agency Petra reported.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the curfew will begin immediately after the voting process has been concluded and the ballots closed.

Voters will go to the polls on Tuesday in an election focused on the country's economic crisis which has been heightened by the pandemic.

The prime minister’s decision excluded candidates and delegates of the lists in polling and counting centers, as well as members of election committees, local and international observers and accredited media. Those will be exempt from the curfew until the final results are announced.

The decision came after Health Minister, Nazir Obeidat, advised the prime minister to impose the curfew in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Coronavirus has claimed more than 1,180 lives from over 104,800 cases in Jordan, according to health ministry data.
Since early October, COVID-19 cases have been rocketing, despite the kingdom's efforts to keep the infection rate close to zero at the start of the pandemic.