Morocco Considers Extending Lockdown as COVID-19 Cases Rise

A few days before the lifting of the lockdown, the figures from the Ministry of Health are not very reassuring. In Morocco, the report shows 1,448 cases of contamination, 122 cases of recovery, 107 deaths. Casablanca-Settat remains the region most affected by the kingdom with 421 people infected by the coronavirus.

In this context where the toll is rising day by day, could the Moroccan authorities lift the lockdown? A difficult equation to solve. What is clear is that deconfinement will first have to take into account the evolution of the pandemic. Morocco could follow the example of China. The city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, lifted its lockdown after 76 days.

It is true that the lockdown is a measure intended to curb the spread of the virus, but it is time for Morocco to give new impetus to its economy. Another option is therefore available to the authorities. This involves gradually lifting the lockdown, while remaining on alert, by regularly checking temperatures, managing customer flows and maintaining a safe distance between people.