The role of non-state actors in combating COVID-19 spread in Northern Jordan

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global problem where all countries should react appropriately and participate effectively to deal with it.In Jordan, a small country with a population of 12.2 million in the Middle East, after the first case with COVID-19 infection was reported on March 2nd, 2020, the government initiated a two-week quarantine for arrivals from high-risk countries.On March 15th, as a response to the increased number of reported new cases, the government further adopted a series of strict Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention (NPI) measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.These included extensive contact tracing and quarantining of contacts within their households for two weeks if tested negative.Besides, all laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, even if asymptomatic, were forced to mandatory quarantine within designated hospitals [1,2].On March 17th, 2020, the number of reported confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 40.This called on the Jordanian government to take several additional NPI measures including activating the National Defence Law.Accordingly, a strict countrywide lockdown and nationwide curfew were imposed.This curfew prohibited people's movement, implemented a stay-at-home policy, stopped public, social, and religious events, closed all shops, and suspended both governmental and nongovernmental institutions except for vital sectors [1,3].During the first couple of days of the curfew, the residents were prevented from leaving their homes except for only health emergencies [3].They were then allowed five specific days per week to move around and walk in their geographic boundaries between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. [3].People who were found in violation of the curfew order would be immediately imprisoned for up to a year.Although these strict state NPI measures including lockdown and curfew were successful in combating the spread of the infection [1,3]