Morocco Expands COVID-19 Screening as New Outbreaks Emerge Post-Lockdown

From his reading of the epidemiological situation in Morocco, Jaafar Heikel told La Map that the new cases that have appeared in the last two weeks are part of the classic dynamics of pandemics and their post-critical phase management. Immediately after deconfinement, Morocco has substantially expanded screening in the professional and industrial environment. This, according to him, has allowed an increase in the absolute number of cases to be observed. However, he reassures, this situation does not represent a higher epidemic risk at the national level, as more than 95% of the detected cases are asymptomatic.

Regarding the fear of a second wave of infections, the specialist in infectious diseases and public health noted that no country is immune to a "second intense circulation of the virus". Because, he says, "we have no idea of the real prevalence of the virus in the general population". According to him, if the risk increases, it is because "the barrier measures are less respected after deconfinement, while the virus is present". It is precisely at this moment that the hitherto asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic subjects can transmit the virus, he confides. It is therefore urgent that the competent authorities take preventive measures in the face of the danger and the challenge represented by this situation.

For Jaafar Heikel, Morocco has the necessary weapons to manage the current situation. In order to successfully manage the deconfinement, it will mainly be, according to him, to "reach a difficult compromise between protecting the health of citizens and the necessary return to social and economic life". To achieve this, "strategic planning and operational preparation" are necessary.

As advice to curb the increase in the number of cases, the specialist in infectious diseases and public health called on the population to strictly respect the barrier measures (wearing a mask, social distancing, hand washing, hygiene of places, etc.). He calls on the economic actors severely affected by this crisis to make all efforts to protect employees and adopt hygiene measures so that the recovery is up to their expectations. For the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, vigilance must be exercised. As for the authorities, whose efforts so far he praises, they must "prepare our health system for the possible ’jolts’ of this pandemic or new epidemics". There must, he insists, be reactivity and quality in the care of patients in the event of a massive influx of patients.