Morocco Unveils Two-Zone Plan to Ease COVID-19 Lockdown Measures

"In order to preserve the achievements made by our country in terms of controlling the covid-19 epidemic, and taking into account the ongoing risk of virus spread, and in order to preserve the health of citizens, the Government Council adopted, on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Decree No. 2.20.406 extending the state of health emergency throughout the national territory for a period of one month, from June 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. until Friday, July 10 at 6:00 p.m., in order to fight against the spread of the coronavirus," say the Ministries of Health and the Interior in a joint press release.

Also, the government has approved the provisions relating to the easing of restrictions related to the state of health confinement. Under the implementation of the first phase of the plan to ease health confinement measures, the prefectures or provinces of the kingdom have been divided into two zones according to the criteria set by the health authorities, the same source specifies.

The first zone covers the regions of the Oriental, Béni-Mellal-Khénifra, Draâ-Tafilalet, Souss-Massa, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laâyoune Sakia-El Hamra, Dakhla-Oued Eddahab as well as the prefecture of Mdiq-Fnideq and the provinces of Tétouan, Fahs-Anjra, Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, Ouezzane, Meknès, Ifrane, Moulay Yacoub, Sefrou, Boulemane, Taounate, Taza, Khémisset, Sidi Kacem, Sidi Slimane, Settat, Sidi Bennour, Chichaoua, El Haouz, Kelâa des S’raghna, Essaouira, R’hamna, Safi and Youssoufia. Citizens can move within this zone without the exceptional travel authorization. Urban public transport will resume with an operation not exceeding 50% of the capacity.

The second easing zone concerns the prefectures of Casablanca, Mohammedia, Rabat, Salé, Skhirate-Témara, Tanger-Assilah, Marrakech and Fès as well as the provinces of Larache, El Hajeb, Kenitra, El Jadida, Nouaceur, Mediouna, Benslimane and Berrechid. Each citizen must leave his home with an exceptional travel authorization. Businesses will be closed at 8:00 p.m. in this zone. Urban public transport will resume without exceeding 50% of the capacity.

As for the other restrictions instituted within the framework of the state of health emergency (prohibition of gatherings, meetings, festivities, wedding parties, funerals, etc.), they are maintained in these two zones.