People stand on the side as Jordan's King Abdullah II arrives in his vehicle at a hospital in the town of Salt, northwest of the capital. AFP
People stand on the side as Jordan's King Abdullah II arrives in his vehicle at a hospital in the town of Salt, northwest of the capital. AFP
People stand on the side as Jordan's King Abdullah II arrives in his vehicle at a hospital in the town of Salt, northwest of the capital. AFP
People stand on the side as Jordan's King Abdullah II arrives in his vehicle at a hospital in the town of Salt, northwest of the capital. AFP
Angry people gather outside Al-Hussein Al Salt Hospital in Salt, Jordan. AP Photo
Angry people gather outside Al-Hussein Al Salt Hospital in Salt, Jordan. AP Photo
People protest outside a hospital in the town of Salt. AFP
People protest outside a hospital in the town of Salt. AFP
An ambulance leaves Al-Hussein Al Salt Hospital in Salt. AP Photo
An ambulance leaves Al-Hussein Al Salt Hospital in Salt. AP Photo
Members of Jordan's Darak forces keep demonstrators away outside al-Hussain New Salt Hospital in the town of Salt. AFP
Members of Jordan's Darak forces keep demonstrators away outside al-Hussain New Salt Hospital in the town of Salt. AFP
Gendarmerie vehicles deploy outside the new government hospital in the city of Al Salt, Jordan, after seven patients died there following a shortage of oxygen. Reuters
Gendarmerie vehicles deploy outside the new government hospital in the city of Al Salt, Jordan, after seven patients died there following a shortage of oxygen. Reuters
Gendarmerie officers guard the gate of the government hospital in the city of Al Salt, Jordan. Reuters
Gendarmerie officers guard the gate of the government hospital in the city of Al Salt, Jordan. Reuters
Civil defence members stand outside the government hospital in the city of Al Salt, Jordan. Reuters
Civil defence members stand outside the government hospital in the city of Al Salt, Jordan. Reuters
People gather outside the Al Salt government hospital after the patient deaths. Reuters
People gather outside the Al Salt government hospital after the patient deaths. Reuters
People gather outside the government hospital in the city of Al Salt, Jordan. Reuters
People gather outside the government hospital in the city of Al Salt, Jordan. Reuters
Police officers stand outside the government hospital in Al Salt, Jordan. Reuters
Police officers stand outside the government hospital in Al Salt, Jordan. Reuters

MENA

Jordan's Al Salt hospital death toll increases to nine

The depletion of oxygen supplies that resulted in the deaths lasted for two hours

Khaled Yacoub Oweis
Ahmed Maher
Jordan

March 14, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The number of people who died from a lack of oxygen supplies at a Jordanian hospital has risen to nine, as outrage in the country grows.

Authorities have arrested five people after the incident in which the new Al Salt government hospital ran out of oxygen  from 7.30am to 9.30am on Saturday morning.

The director of the hospital, Abdel Razak Al Khashman, and four other officials were detained, according to local reports.

A prosecutor placed them in custody for a week for questioning.

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

Health minister Nazir Obeidat stood down in the wake of the disaster and Interior Minister Mazen Al Faraya has temporarily replaced him.

MPs on the Parliamentary Health Committee said that negligence and corruption directly caused the tragedy.

In video footage posted online during his visit to the hospital on Saturday, a visibly angry King Abdullah 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 anger and disgust.

What happened in Al Salt hospital?

Mr Al Faraya told an emergency session of Jordan's House of Representatives that "at exactly 7.12am Saturday morning, a report was received by the [Directorate of] General Security regarding the problem of lack of oxygen in the isolation rooms and intensive care units of Salt Hospital.

"Out of the nine deaths from the coronavirus in Al Hussain Hospital in Al Salt yesterday, six of them died while running out of oxygen," according to the minister.

Read More

Jordan's health minister forced out of government after seven Covid-19 patients die from lack of oxygen

Jordan halts Friday prayers in new coronavirus bans

"No action was taken after the level of oxygen reached a dangerous level in the hospital.

"The armed forces have started establishing an oxygen production plant that will be ready within three weeks," Mr Al Faraya said.

He said civil defence personnel have been installed in hospitals to monitor oxygen levels, and will also perform checks on oxygen providing companies.

The daily virus caseload in Jordan has surged in recent weeks, prompting authorities to re-impose 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 more than 5,200 deaths.

You might also like
On Women's Day
UAE currency
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Jordan