Jordan said on Monday it would extend a curfew indefinitely, with supermarkets and other stores closed, and deliver food across the country to try to rein in the coronavirus.
The kingdom has reported 112 cases of the COVID-19 virus so far, but no officially declared deaths in the country of around 10 million people.
Minister of State for Media Amjad Adailah said the government had made arrangements with municipal councils to deliver enough bread, water, gas cylinders and basic medicines across the country for the rest of the week. Pharmacies and bakeries are to reopen "but will not provide direct sales" to citizens, he said.
“We have to prepare ourselves for a difficult period,” Adailah told state media.
Jordan announced a nationwide curfew on Saturday.
The country has deployed thousands of troops at checkpoints in main cities to limit movement, saying many residents had flouted earlier calls to stay at home.
“There are people who do not know the extent of the danger that is lurking and insist on breaking the law,” said army spokesman Brigadier General Mukhles al Mufleh, adding more than 800 people had been arrested.
Labor Minister Nidal al Batyneh told reporters that people should get used to a more austere lifestyle until the crisis is over.
Jordanian authorities earlier banned travel between provinces, sealed off the capital Amman and suspended public transport and flights.
Tunisian army deploys in streets
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied on Monday ordered the army to deploy in the streets to force people to respect a lockdown imposed to halt the spread of coronavirus, the office of the presidency said in a statement sent to Reuters.
Tunisia has 89 confirmed cases of the virus. It imposed a curfew last week and a general lockdown from Sunday that keeps people in their homes except to buy necessities.
Sudan, Libya curfews
Sudan will impose a nationwide curfew starting on Tuesday beginning at 8 pm (1800 GMT) and lasting until 6 am to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, a member of the ruling transitional council said on Monday.
Sudan will also halt all long-haul bus trips between cities and states beginning on Thursday from 6 pm local time, the council member, Sadig Tawir, said on state television.
“All the state’s capabilities will be at the disposal of the committee to fight coronavirus,” Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s sovereign council, told a press conference, referring to a task force of cabinet members and sovereign council members dedicated to fighting coronavirus.
Sudan confirmed its second case of the coronavirus last Friday. It has so far confirmed one death from the disease.
The country closed all airports, ports and land crossings and declared a public health emergency last week.
Only humanitarian, commercial and technical support shipments would be excluded from the restrictions, according to a spokesman for the ruling council, in charge of the country since the ouster of veteran ruler Omar al-Bashir last year.
The interim government in eastern Libya will impose a full curfew for 10 days from Wednesday in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus, though medicine can be delivered by telephone if necessary, the military said on Monday.
Libya has not yet confirmed any cases of the coronavirus, but international aid agencies and local health officials have warned that its conflict will make combating an outbreak very difficult.
