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Coronavirus Pandemic Adds Challenges to Jordan's Fragile Economy

Dale Gavlak

   AMMAN - Jordan's prime minister resigned earlier this week in line with
   preparations for next month's parliamentary elections. But observers
   say the government's recent handling of the coronavirus pandemic and
   its economic fallout may have also led to Omar al-Razzaz's resignation
   amid concerns about the country's stability as infection rates rise and
   a weekend lockdown looms.

   Jordan's strict coronavirus lockdown and curfew measures ended in
   mid-June and only opened its main international airport on September 8.
   Then, the small Middle Eastern kingdom saw scant COVID-19 cases, most
   by truckers transporting goods across borders or citizens returning
   home.

   But that positive picture has changed. Although the more than 1,500
   daily case rate is far smaller than those reported in the U.S. or
   Europe, it is worrisome for a country with limited intensive care beds
   and resources. It also hosts about one-and-a-half-million refugees from
   regional conflicts and COVID-19 has now been detected in refugee camps.

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