COVID-19 Situation in Morocco
On Thursday, the Moroccan Ministry of Health announced the registration of 1,325 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 47,638 since the onset of the pandemic in the country on March 2. This translates to an incidence rate of 131 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Mohaed Al-Mrabet, the coordinator of the National Center for Public Health Emergency Operations, provided a statement regarding the current epidemiological situation, indicating that 1,230 individuals have recovered from the virus from Monday evening until Tuesday evening, raising the recovery total to 32,806.
Furthermore, the spokesperson reported 32 new fatalities within the past 24 hours, increasing the death toll to 775. The Ministry of Health urged citizens to adhere to hygiene and health safety protocols and to actively participate in the precautionary measures implemented by Moroccan authorities with a sense of national responsibility.
Enhanced COVID-19 Measures in High-Risk Areas
In light of the rising COVID-19 cases, Morocco has decided to intensify its measures against the virus, particularly in the cities of Marrakech and Casablanca, which have been severely affected by the outbreak. According to a government statement released on Thursday, new restrictions include the closure of 12 neighborhoods in Marrakech and all peripheral access points to the city, along with strict monitoring in these areas. Public parks will be closed, and markets will cease operations by 5 PM.
Additionally, beaches in the economic capital, Casablanca, and its suburbs will be closed starting Saturday, alongside the continued closure of several neighborhoods in the city. Cafés are also prohibited from broadcasting football matches, which typically attract large crowds. Similar measures have been announced for the city of Beni Mellal, where six neighborhoods will be closed starting Friday. Precautionary measures have also been reinforced in Tangier, Fes, and Rabat, with the reintroduction of armored personnel carriers and security checkpoints.
Moreover, the Moroccan Minister of Health signed a cooperation agreement on Thursday with officials from the Chinese company Sinopharm regarding the third phase of clinical trials for a vaccine against COVID-19, as reported by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Travel to and from eight cities, including Casablanca and Marrakech, has been prohibited since the end of July, except for exceptional cases.
Morocco has seen a concerning trend in the COVID-19 pandemic, with over a thousand new cases reported daily since the beginning of August. In a related context, the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to accusations from the World Health Organization regarding the lack of data sharing related to the origins of the virus. Meanwhile, the U.S. President’s physician reported that Biden is experiencing symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, and general fatigue. Globally, COVID-19 continues to claim approximately 1,700 lives weekly, as stated by the World Health Organization, which urges high-risk individuals to continue receiving vaccinations. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the variant J.N1 accounts for about 62 percent of COVID-19 infections.
As reported by alghad.tv.
