Jordan PM tests positive for Covid-19 for the second time this year

Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday for the second time this year.

The premier has taken two rapid flow tests which confirmed his contraction of the virus and is now awaiting the results of his PCR test, according to official Petra news agency.

Al-Khasawneh will now self-isolate and will adhere to local health protocols until he receives his PCR test.

He tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this year in February. Al-Khasawneh was appointed prime minister in 2020, after serving other senior government and diplomatic positions.

Jordan recorded zero Covid-19 deaths and 3,389 new coronavirus cases between 3 September to 9 September, the health ministry announced on Sunday. 

It shows a stead rise in cases with 3,372 recorded the previous week.

Jordan has seen over 1.74 million coronavirus cases, and 14,110 related deaths.

Jordan was praised for its tough response to the Covid-19 pandemic early on in the crisis, with much of the country closed to stop the spread of the disease.

While it helped keep numbers low during the first months of the pandemic, the country appeared to do a u-turn on this policy when further waves hit and the economic damage from lockdowns became apparent.

About 45 percent of the Jordanian population is double vaccinated.