Morocco Implements COVID-19 Safety Measures for Upcoming September Elections

To prevent the spread of the virus during the September 8 elections, local authorities must put in place all possible health measures at polling stations. In this regard, the Ministry of the Interior has sent a note on the measures and procedures for the preparation of these elections. Moreover, "the country is able to organize the upcoming legislative, collective and regional elections insofar as it has organized the baccalaureate exams and the rest of the major national events," said Said Afif, member of the scientific committee for vaccination against "Covid-19," specifying that "the kingdom has been able to vaccinate 17 million citizens with the first dose," or about 60% of the target group.

While urging Moroccans to be more vigilant and respect the measures, Afif reassures: "the State is involved in these workshops, and will strive to provide all the logistical means and equipment for the elections and on election day, including sterilization and masks." In the same vein, the physician and researcher in health policies and systems, Tayeb Hamdi, specified that "the health procedures will remain in force during the electoral periods, and the parties must organize their meetings virtually, in order not to face the threat of new epidemic waves." Moreover, "even if the epidemiological situation improves in Morocco, that does not mean that we should let go," he recommended.