Letter from... Amman

by Zein Sajdi, Analyst

Jordan has taken the very strictest measures since the early stages of the spread of CV-19. The country enacted the National Defense Law on March 18^th, placing the country under emergency military rules. This meant enforcing a nationwide curfew and shutting down all shops, services, schools, universities and the public sector. Schools and universities quickly shifted to an e-learning system.

A full lockdown meant that no one could leave their home, not even to go for a walk. This could sound quite extreme, but it was a necessary precaution to contain the spread of the virus.

Seven days after the full lockdown, the Government allowed essential shops to open, including supermarkets and pharmacies, but driving was not allowed. People were allowed to walk to shops between 10 am and 6 pm, after which the curfew was activated, and everyone was supposed to stay home.  

We stayed in this partial curfew period for 5 weeks. While this was a positive step in containing COVID19, it naturally started taking a toll on our economy. And so, the Government started opening the economy slowly, opening non-essential goods and services while implementing strict health precautions including wearing masks and gloves, social distancing and having a certain number of people inside stores.

I am happy to say that thanks to these strict measures, we have been able to flatten the curve quite well; but that wouldn’t have been possible without the enormous efforts of the government, army, doctors, nurses, and all key workers. Our modern-day heroes. 

Beyond the virus, something beautiful has come out of this all.

We as humans have reinvented our daily lives and readjusted to the current pace. For some, time has become a canvas of creativity. Art has been rediscovered, music has been played, and people moved unconventionally. For some, it has been an opportunity to enjoy the simple things in life; ride a bike, draw, read a book, bake a cake or to simply just be.  

Ramadan this year has come amid these unusual circumstances. While it is usually a time of fasting, praying, reflecting, helping the unfortunate and sharing a meal with friends and family, this Ramadan is definitely different.  Our mobility is limited as the curfew is still activated, and so we cannot have our usual gatherings with friends and family.

However, a different kind of togetherness is being celebrated. A month of solidarity, perseverance and unity, against the virus.

The lives of people all around the world have been altered one way or another as we navigate these unprecedented times. There is no doubt that COVID19 has taken us all by storm. I feel truly blessed to be back home with my family in Amman, Jordan during this time.