Two Jordanian ministers caught breaking lockdown measures, resign

March 1, 2021 The Jordanian Ministers for Interior and Justice resigned yesterday after they were found violating anti-coronavirus measures. Both Interior Minister Samir Mobeideen and Justice Minister were found at a public banquet violating the social distancing as well as maximum permissible capacity guidelines which their ministries are expected to enforce. Current capacity is limited to 20 people. This comes days after the imposition of new restrictions on Jordanians, including stay-at-home orders, a military-enforced curfew and a 100 (~US$140) fine on those not wearing face masks.

Their resignations were accepted by Prime Minister and, in one of two Royal Decrees, King Abdullah II. According to multiple reports, the second decree ratified Deputy Prime Minister for Local Administration to run the Ministry of the Interior and State Minister for Legal Affairs  to run the Ministry of Justice.

A recent surge in new infections by of the coronavirus has led to at least 4627 deaths and over 300 thousand cases in the nation of ten million, Reuters reported. Officials attribute it to Jordanians not obeying the restrictions, and have arrested dozens for breaching stay-at-home orders; hundreds of businesses have also been closed, Reuters further added in the report.