Morocco Urges Caution for Eid Al-Adha Gatherings Amid COVID-19 Surge

Speaking this Saturday during a webinar initiated by the Moroccan Society of Medical Sciences (SMSM) on the theme "Covid-19, flu, HPV and pneumococcus: Importance of vaccination, what recommendations?", the Minister of Health noted the "particular and difficult situation" in which Eid Al-Adha this year is taking place. As this feast represents "an opportunity for families to gather around the same table", Khalid Ait Taleb urges Moroccans to "have the maturity and responsibility to avoid unnecessary visits and physical contacts and ensure compliance with preventive measures during family gatherings".

Insisting on strict compliance with preventive measures and barrier gestures, the minister said that a re-containment remains possible at any time in case of non-compliance with preventive and safety measures, since, he observes, "the virus is still present and is waiting for the slightest opportunity to spread further". According to him, the challenge today is to ensure "the care of people with chronic diseases and guaranteeing the continuity of treatment and health services in public and private hospital facilities".

Ait Taleb, who also says he encourages telework and digital technology to establish this culture and preserve health, stressed that "the success in the fight against this pandemic depends on individual and collective commitment". This webinar organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health was also an opportunity to recall the latest update from the Ministry of the Interior which stressed that any failure to comply with barrier measures (wearing a mask in particular) will be punished by fines or imprisonment.