Morocco Warns of ’Likely’ COVID-19 Surge as Preventive Measures Slip

Morocco risks going back to square one, as barrier gestures are increasingly flouted. Speaking on the morning program of the Moroccan Information Radio (RIM Radio) on Thursday, the coordinator of the emergency operations center at the Ministry of Health, Mouad Mrabet, indicated that the indicators are orange as to the epidemiological situation of the country, adding that worrying indicators suggest a "very likely" epidemiological relapse.

While the Delta variant is raging in some countries, he continued, and Morocco has reopened its borders for the summer season, three main indicators suggest a new wave of infection in Morocco. He cites: the increase in positive cases, the speed of spread and the acceleration of the reproduction index of cases. The virus is spreading more and more and critical cases are increasing with the rise in new cases, he warns.

Faced with this gloomy picture, the official stressed the importance of respecting preventive measures, in particular the correct wearing of masks, compliance with social distancing and hygiene, as the most effective way to curb the spread of the virus and avoid a return to confinement and travel restrictions.

Regarding the national vaccination campaign, Mr. Mrabet noted that a third of the target population (over 17 years old) has been vaccinated, assuring that field data proves the effectiveness of the vaccine, as evidenced by the drop in the number of deaths.