Morocco Sees Sharp Decline in COVID-19 Cases, Experts Consider Easing Restrictions

The coordinator of the National Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Mouad Merabet, had recently stated that "Morocco has moved from a moderate to a low level of virus transmission and that the Omicron wave is in pre-closure". So many positive indicators that according to the doctor and researcher in health policies and systems, Tayeb Hamdi, can hope for a return to normal or almost normal life, in Morocco as elsewhere. "We estimate that more than 50% of the world’s population would have been infected in the two to three weeks following the start of the Omicron wave. In Morocco, two-thirds of the population are vaccinated. We have a slowdown in the spread of the virus," reports 2M.

He explains that even if new variants emerge, it is unlikely that they will be as virulent as Omicron, but the risk is not zero. "We have vaccination, social distancing, hand hygiene and masks. So each individual must make a choice, he must choose the level of protection he wants to ensure for himself and his entourage," he said. He adds that "it is no longer the responsibility of the State or the population to protect others, each person must self-protect and decide on the level of security they want to afford themselves. Everyone must take responsibility so that the entire population can regain normal life".

Regarding the end of the obligation to wear masks and observe other measures, the doctor thinks that the government must seriously lift them, except for "vulnerable people who must continue to respect the barrier measures and have the 3 doses of vaccine. People living with vulnerable people must also respect the barrier measures. These measures must also be respected in large gatherings and enclosed spaces".

The government has already authorized the reopening of stadiums to the delight of supporters, who have returned this weekend, after several months of absence.