Coronavirus: Jordan’s health minister steps down after seven deaths in Covid-19 ward
- Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh ordered an investigation into the deaths early on Saturday morning at the hospital in the town of Salt
- King Abdullah II arrived at the Salt government hospital to help calm angry families who had gathered outside
Jordan’s health minister stepped down on Saturday after at least seven patients in a hospital Covid-19 ward died because of a shortage of oxygen supplies, state media reported.
Hours later, King Abdullah II arrived at the Salt government hospital to help calm angry families who had gathered outside.
Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh ordered an investigation into the deaths early on Saturday morning at the hospital in the town of Salt, 20 kilometres (13 miles) north of the capital Amman.
King Abdullah has ordered the hospital’s director also suspended, according to Al-Mamlaka TV, which added that all of the dead were coronavirus patients.
The Al-Rai newspaper, a government mouthpiece, confirmed that Health Minister Nathir Obeidat had resigned.
Jordan, home to 10 million people, is grappling with surging coronavirus infections and deaths and struggling to secure vaccines.