Health Checks Slow Border Traffic Between Melilla and Morocco

Health checks currently constitute an obstacle to crossing the Melilla border. Many citizens of the autonomous city, who had not been vaccinated against Covid-19, will have to comply if they wish to go to Nador. This new health requirement has caused a rush of citizens to the Covid-19 vaccination centers in order to obtain the vaccination certificate. Between Monday and Wednesday, more than 2,400 people were vaccinated, according to El Faro de Melilla.

Those who have just received their first dose will not be able to go to Morocco for at least a month and a half, as they will have to receive the second dose 14 days after the first, and then wait another 14 days on the territory after the administration of the second dose, in accordance with the health protocol in force in Spain. Only people over 12 years of age are affected by this measure.

From Tuesday when the border reopened, to Friday, 7,729 people and 2,958 vehicles transited in both directions through the Beni-Ensar post. In detail, the traffic from Melilla to Morocco was more important, with a total of 3,971 people and 1,533 vehicles, compared to 3,758 people and 1,425 vehicles leaving the kingdom towards the autonomous city.

The Moroccan authorities have decided to require citizens of Melilla traveling to Morocco to have a vaccination passport with at least two doses or a diagnostic test performed no more than 72 hours before the trip. They have also set up a Covid-19 vaccination point at the border and promised to accelerate the process of renewing the green card, essential for the circulation in Morocco of vehicles registered in Europe.