Morocco Urges Caution as COVID-19 Cases Rise, Health Ministry Warns of Potential ’Epidemiological Relapse’

In a press release, the ministry calls on Moroccans to "strictly respect the preventive measures against Covid-19, recommended by the National Scientific Committee and the health authorities, through the correct wearing of masks, hygiene, respect for social distancing and the avoidance of unnecessary gatherings".

During a press conference, the Minister of Health Khalid Ait Taleb stressed the need to redouble vigilance, stating that "if necessary, we would be obliged to strengthen the restrictions, which would have a negative impact on several sectors".

"Given the evolution of the epidemiological situation over the past two days, we have been able to observe an accelerated increase in cases of contamination compared to the trend observed during the last months," he noted.

The ministry stresses that the gradual lifting of confinement does not mean the end of the pandemic and the return of life to its normal course, insisting in this context on the involvement of everyone with a sense of responsibility and patriotism to fight against the spread of Covid-19 in order to achieve collective immunity and to capitalize on the achievements made so far.

Thanks to the guidelines of King Mohammed VI, the anticipation and the proactive management of the epidemic, Morocco "has achieved important results in terms of control and mastery of the epidemiological situation," he stressed.

To this end, the minister affirmed that the vaccination campaign is progressing with a third of the target population vaccinated. "These are very important results on which we should capitalize, while respecting the barrier measures without which we risk a resurgence," he warned.

The relaxation observed in recent days could lead to the deterioration of the epidemiological situation, particularly with the summer holidays, the return of international flights to and from Morocco, the easing of the night curfew and the approach of Eid Al Adha.

A total of 776 new cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in Morocco in the last 24 hours.