Survey Reveals Moroccan Compliance with COVID-19 Emergency Measures

In this context of a health crisis marked by restrictive measures that are sometimes relaxed, sometimes reinforced or readjusted, L’Economiste-Sunergia conducted a survey on the violation of the rules related to the state of emergency by Moroccans. The results are quite edifying. 93% of the people surveyed say they have never been arrested by the security forces for this offense. But does this score suffice to conclude that everyone respects the health guidelines? Obviously not.

The reality is that many offenders have probably escaped the vigilance of the authorities. The survey points out that 2% of the respondents were apprehended and taken to the police or gendarmerie station for not wearing a protective mask, violating the night curfew, or traveling between cities without authorization. 5% of the sample paid a fine.

To read: Morocco Fines Hundreds for Violating COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

However, 8% of men were fined compared to 2% for women. Young people aged 18-24 who have violated the rules related to the state of emergency represent only 3% of the respondents, and those aged 25-34 who were arrested, only 2% of the sample. The 35-44 year olds are the most undisciplined according to the survey. 5% of them have already been arrested by the police or the gendarmerie and 6% have paid a fine on the spot or within 24 hours. In rural areas, 2% of people living in the countryside have already been apprehended by the gendarmerie or the police, compared to 3% in urban areas, and 4% have paid the fine in rural areas compared to 5% in urban areas.

The penalty provided for by Decree-Law 2.20.292 for these offenses is the payment of a fine of 300 to 1,300 DH and a prison sentence of one to three months depending on the seriousness of the offense.