Casablanca Restricts COVID-19 Testing: Private Labs Now Limited to Travelers

The Derb Sultan medical analysis laboratories, G Lab, located at 93 boulevard Anoual, as well as the International Biomedical Analysis Laboratory (LIAB) on boulevard Abdelmoumen, will now be open to people in possession of a travel document, according to a decision by the Wali of Casablanca.

For now, no details have been given on the reasons behind this decision by the local authorities, while Morocco has adopted a strategy of massive screening. According to Professor Abdellah Benslimane, director of the International Biomedical Analysis Laboratory (LIAB), screening tests have seen a sharp increase in recent weeks.

According to him, his laboratory, authorized since July 10, 2020, carries out up to 300 molecular (PCR) tests per day and billed at 700 dirhams, compared to 300 for serological tests. Last Tuesday, August 11, the Minister of Health had decided to revise his screening strategy by authorizing clinics to carry out these tests.