Four of Jordan’s health ministry officials were arrested following the death of seven patients in a hospital COVID-19 ward, due to a shortage of oxygen supplies last week, a judicial source announced Sunday.
Amman’s Attorney General Hassan Abdallat said that Salt’s Attorney General ordered the arrest of four additional officials in connection with the New Salt Public Hospital case.
The detainees include secretary-general of the health ministry, assistant secretary-general for health and technical affairs, assistant secretary-general for services affairs and the director of the ministry’s directorate of biomedical engineering.
In statements carried by the Petra news agency, Abdallat said all suspects - now totaling 13 - were arrested on charges of “causing death.”
The Public Prosecution listened to 66 attesting witnesses, he added.
Public rage over the deaths led to the resignation of Health Minister Nazir Obeidat and the detention of several figures, including the hospital’s Director, Abdel Razak al-Khashman, and four of his aides.
Jordan has recently seen a surge in the daily number of COVID-19 cases.
On Saturday, the kingdom announced 87 deaths, raising the toll to 5,788. It also recorded more than 5,000 new cases, taking the tally to 526,000 since the beginning of the pandemic.
On March 10, the cabinet decided to close indoor swimming pools, sports centers, academies and public parks until the end of March, and it extended a curfew from 7 pm till 6 am as of March 13.
It was also decided to suspend Friday prayers and Sunday mass until March 31.
