Morocco Considers Easing COVID Restrictions as Omicron Wave Peaks

In an interview with SNRTnews, Saïd Moutaouakil stated that the wave of contamination recorded by Morocco is at its peak, as "the daily test positivity rate is stabilizing nationwide between 22 and 25%. It is no longer increasing, especially in the two large regions of Casablanca - Settat and Rabat - Salé - Kénitra, which account for two-thirds of the cases." However, the rate remained very high in the regions of Fès-Meknès, Marrakech-Safi, as well as in the regions of the Oriental and the North.

Regarding the occupancy rate of intensive care services, it is 10% nationwide, "but there is real tension in the intensive care services in the major cities, particularly in Casablanca where this rate exceeds 90%".

The daily number of deaths is experiencing a certain increase, but remains nevertheless below the previously recorded average. "This observation is also made worldwide where the disease is becoming more and more transmissible, but is losing in severity over time. This is what has prompted several countries to ease restrictive measures and resume a near-normal life. Morocco will not deviate from this rule," said Said Moutaouakil.

With these data, the specialist indicates that Covid-19 has lost its "pandemic" status to become endemic. He gave the example of a study published by the CDC in Atlanta, United States, whose statistics are consistent with those recorded in Morocco. There are fewer clinical signs, fewer hospitalizations in intensive care, and mortality is increasingly reduced. "The virus and its variants will remain among us in a seasonal mode like the flu. This requires a radical change in the paradigms of the strategy to fight the disease. We expect an end to the pandemic nature of the disease during the end of the spring period," he said.

However, certain behaviors must be adopted in order not to find oneself at the heart of a wave of contamination. These include "health and epidemiological monitoring, individual compliance with barrier measures, treatment of infected patients, strengthening of community medicine, promotion of healthy living: control of chronic diseases, fight against risk factors, fight against obesity and collective practice of sport".

Despite the many consequences generated by Covid-19, Saïd Moutaouakil points out that this health crisis has had the merit of allowing Morocco to review "the importance of true national solidarity, anticipation in the face of the crisis, very good political governance at the national and regional level, the strategic role of the State in major health crises and the strategic importance of the health system and education".

In addition, the crisis has shown the limits of the health system which, despite its achievements, must undergo qualitative changes for the well-being of citizens. "Our health system, despite its limitations, has shown a lot of resilience, but it must be completely overhauled in all its components to provide quality care equitably while respecting human dignity and regain the trust of the population".