The Jordanian Ministry of Health announced on Thursday evening the registration of the first two cases of the Omicron variant in the country. The ministry stated that the first case concerns a Jordanian individual who arrived from South Africa and was immediately quarantined in one of the hotels in Amman. It also clarified that the second case pertains to a Jordanian citizen who has not traveled outside the country recently and was quarantined in a hotel in the capital as well, noting that an epidemiological investigation is currently underway to determine the details of the infection.
**New Measures**
In light of the evolving epidemiological situation in the kingdom, the National Center for Security and Crisis Management/COVID-19 Crisis Cell in Jordan revealed that "further precautionary measures will be taken in response to the arrival of variants in Jordan, specifically Omicron, starting from December 12". The center stated that all travelers to Jordan must undergo a PCR test before travel (within 72 hours) and register on the GATEWAY2JORDAN platform to obtain a QR code that allows them to board the plane, explaining that a PCR test will also be conducted upon their arrival at one of the airports in the kingdom. Children under five years of age are exempt from this requirement.
Regarding land borders, it was decided that a PCR test must be carried out before entering the kingdom (within 72 hours), and travelers must register on the GATEWAY2JORDAN platform to obtain a QR code before reaching one of the border centers, where a PCR test will be conducted at the border center. Children under five years of age are also exempt from this requirement. The center further indicated that the previous decision exempting vaccinated individuals from undergoing a PCR test upon their arrival in the kingdom has been canceled, along with the previous exemption for Jordanians who received the vaccine from having to conduct the PCR test in the departure country before arriving in Jordan, for travel lasting no more than 10 days.
