AMMAN — After a spike in COVID-19 cases coming from its northern neighbor, Jordan has decided to close its land trade border crossing with Syria for a week, officials said on Wednesday. The interior minister"s decision to close the Jaber crossing would come into effect on Thursday morning, they said. The move, which also puts officials working at the crossing under quarantine, comes after 12 cases were reported on Wednesday in addition to 13 on Tuesday in the first such surge for several weeks. The country"s other land crossings with Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Palestinian territories are only open for commercial goods since the tight lockdown in March to stem the pandemic. Prime Minister Omar Al-Razzaz said on Wednesday the spike was a “source of concern” and officials have said most cases came from truck drivers arriving from Syria, where NGOs say a significant rise in cases has been recorded by humanitarian workers. Earlier this month the kingdom postponed a resumption of international flight services that was planned for Wednesday. — Agencies