COVID-19 Surge in Morocco: Younger Patients Fill Casablanca ICUs

While Morocco is multiplying calls and awareness campaigns for compliance with preventive measures and barrier gestures, hospitals are recording more and more serious cases due to Covid-19. This is the case of the Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center in Casablanca. "The situation is very alarming at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital. We have 37 severe cases, 70% of which are intubated. New patients are welcomed almost every day," says Lahoucine Barrou, head of the anesthesia-resuscitation department of the center.

He describes a situation that is becoming uncontrollable. "Our intensive care units are filling up at an increasing rate. We are seeing a rejuvenation of hospitalized patients, with an increase in serious infections among people under 45 who do not have comorbidities and do not have a complete vaccination schedule," reports Le360.

The Covid-19 patients are so numerous that the appointments of those who come for other care or surgical procedures are being postponed, laments the doctor. He is concerned for the health of the doctors engaged in this fight. "After fighting the pandemic, the doctors, who have not taken any leave since 2019, are starting to get tired. Some have even been infected with Covid-19. On average, 4 to 6 doctors catch the coronavirus per day," he notes.

According to the Ministry of Health, 1,544 patients were hospitalized on Saturday, August 7, 2021 in the services reserved for the most serious cases, including 46 under intubation. The occupancy rate of Covid-19 intensive care beds reached 43.1%.