While Jordan was commended for being the first country in the region to impose a strict lockdown to confront and contain the coronavirus pandemic and with spectacular success — just over 800 cases and nine deaths compared to tens of thousands of cases in Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia — the government is now being criticized for taking its time to open up the economy and for failing to adopt measures to help ailing sectors.
On June 6, almost 90% of businesses reopened and the curfew was limited to the early morning only. But the celebratory mood was short-lived as Jordanians ponder the huge economic impact of the lockdown and the government’s measures, under a Defense Law that was activated in March to mitigate the losses.