COVID-19 Outbreak Hits Moroccan Prison: 5 Cases Confirmed, Including Inmate

The DGAPR indicates that several measures have been taken "to preserve the safety of inmates and penitentiary institutions in the face of the danger of the spread of the new coronavirus". Thus, after the end of the period of health isolation observed by an initial group of prison officials, the health check carried out on this group revealed that three female officials were showing certain symptoms. Subjected to screening tests, the results came back positive.

The services of the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Monitoring Committee immediately began the screening procedures for all employees of the catering company. The results were negative except for two cases whose contamination by the virus was confirmed. These are a driver who has no direct contact with the inmates and a new inmate who joined the institution on April 8, according to a DGAPR press release. The infected cases, as well as an inmate who was in contact with the infected prisoner, have been transferred to the hospital to undergo the care protocol adopted by the competent services.

With these first cases of contamination, the DGAPR has also stated that it has mobilized its various central, regional and local services, and has taken a series of urgent measures in coordination with the various competent authorities. These include "the sterilization of all the dependencies of the penitentiary institution, the strengthening of preventive measures including the distribution of a sufficient number of protective masks for officials, employees and inmates while insisting on the obligation to wear them, as well as the control of movement within the institution and awareness-raising on compliance with hygiene rules".

It was also decided to strengthen medical control and vigilance within the local prison of Ksar El Kébir, to further protect inmates and officials of this institution, by providing them with protective suits.