Joran's King Abdullah has approved a national defence law that gives the government sweeping powers to enforce a state of emergency to help it combat the coronavirus pandemic . The royal decree issued on Tuesday allows Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz to impose curfews, close businesses and place restrictions on freedom of movement of the people. The law, enforced so far during wars and disasters, will be implemented "in a way that it will not impede on the civil and political freedoms of Jordanians, and to protect public freedoms and freedom of speech," according to the royal decree. "The health of Jordanians is sacred and comes above anything else," the decree said, as Jordan recorded 40 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Tuesday. Extraordinary measures Last week, Jordan announced a lockdown beginning on Wednesday, ordering all citizens to stay in their homes apart from emergencies and banning travel between provinces, to fight the coronavirus ...