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Manila Bulletin devider World devider 5 detained over COVID hospital deaths in Jordan

5 detained over COVID hospital deaths in Jordan

Published Mar 15, 2021 08:19 am

The director and four other officials of a Jordanian hospital treating coronavirus patients were detained on Sunday over deaths at the facility after it ran out of oxygen, judicial sources said.

A prosecutor decided to place them in custody for a week for questioning after seven patients died Saturday in the hospital in Salt, near the capital Amman, they said. 

Public anger over the deaths led to the resignation of health minister Nazir Obeidat. 

King Abdullah II, who visited the state hospital on Saturday, ordered its director Abdel Razak al-Khashman to also step down.

The head of health services for the province where Salt is located has likewise been suspended pending the completion of an investigation.

In video footage posted online, a visibly angry Abdullah, shaking his head, is heard telling the hospital director: "How could such a thing happen. This is unacceptable."

Hundreds of people rallied outside during the visit to vent their disgust.

The two houses of Jordan's parliament held emergency sessions Sunday on the Salt hospital deaths and an investigative commission has been set up, a parliamentary source told AFP. 

On Sunday evening, several hundred people took to the steets of the capital outside a central mosque to protest against a curfew starting from 7 p.m. (1700 GMT). 

The daily virus caseload in Jordan has surged in recent weeks, prompting authorities to reimpose curbs, including an all-day curfew on Fridays, the day of rest.

Jordan, which launched its COVID-19 vaccination drive in January, has recorded more than 460,000 coronavirus cases and over 5,200 deaths.

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