Coronavirus fear grips Moroccans, affects businesses

CASABLANCA - Leila, a 20-year-old university student is taking no risks as she rubs her hands with a hand sanitiser while talking to her friend on the tram on their way to the Souissi University campus.

“Prevention is better than cure,” she tells her friend for fear of catching the deadly disease after Morocco reported its first coronavirus case on Monday, from a Moroccan man living in Italy.

The man is currently receiving health care at Moulay Youssef hospital in Casablanca and his health condition is not critical, the health ministry said in a statement.

Health minister Khalid Ait Taleb said that Morocco was ready to deal with a possible spread of the flu-like disease.

He said that Morocco “has two reference analysis laboratories carried out on suspected cases, in particular the Pasteur Institute in Casablanca and the National Hygiene Institute in Rabat.

“All of Morocco's university hospitals are also equipped with analysis laboratories and that if the situation becomes more complicated in the kingdom, other laboratories will be made available,” he said at a press conference held Monday in Rabat.

“Today the situation is not in an emergency. If the situation worsens, Morocco will also increase its control and security measures," said Ait Taleb.

The minister said that there were 671 hospital beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients and six negative pressure rooms in the hospitals across the North African country besides 12 million medical masks.

Moroccan media reported Wednesday that the government banned the export of masks in a bid to raise its local stock in line with international standards.

The prices of medical masks have skyrocketed in the last few days as sellers take advantage of the fear that has gripped Moroccans.

Moroccan authorities seized Tuesday a large quantity of masks at the Tanger Med port en route to the United Kingdom a few days after the seizure of 17,000 health masks at Agadir airport.

Almost 100,000 masks worth 3 million dirhams (US $320,000) in the black market were seized by Moroccan customs.

A prevention television advert is being broadcast on national TV channels in order to raise awareness among Moroccans about the way to deal with the virus while the health ministry set up a 24/7 helpline for the citizens.

Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani warned against the “fake news” that has been circulating on social media.

“The only reference concerning the Coronavirus remains the Ministry of Health, and all information on this subject must be requested and taken from the department of Khalid Ait Taleb,” said the PM.

The Interior Ministry warned Moroccan citizens to be vigilant in the face of the dissemination of false and fictitious information on social media over coronavirus.

Moroccan police arrested three individuals in Tetouan and Marrakech for spreading false information about the disease.

The government has cancelled or postponed several international fairs and sports and cultural events over coronavirus fears.

The Meknes International Agricultural Fair (SIAM), which was going to be held April 14-19 in the imperial city, has been cancelled, dealing a major blow to the city’s most important event and an important catalyst of its economic activity.

“It is a catastrophe for both our business and Meknes as a whole. This is the period where we are fully booked and charge the highest prices,” Nabil Kaghat, General Manager of Zaki Hotel told Middle East Online, estimating the losses at up to 3 million dirhams (US $320,000).

“The whole city’s economy flourishes during the SIAM. Its cancellation is a disaster,” said Kaghat.

Several travel agencies dealing with Chinese tourists closed temporarily in Casablanca as Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) suspended direct flights to China on January 31, fifteen days after launching three weekly flights to Beijing from Casablanca.

“Our travel agency closed temporarily in January due to the coronavirus outbreak,” said an employee who spoke to Middle East Online on condition of anonymity.

“I’m paid half salary. We are basically in temporary unemployment at a time the tourism season is supposed to be picking up,” he said.

Casablanca’s business district of Derb Omar is witnessing a slowdown of commercial activity.

Wholesale traders are complaining about the long delays of orders from China because of the economic slowdown exacerbated by the shutdown of many factories following the outbreak of coronavirus.

A Moroccan customs official told Middle East Online that containers are still coming from countries seriously affected by the virus, including China and Italy, to Tanger Med port amid significant disruptions of the supply chain throughout the shipping industry.

Morocco’s cycling federation cancelled the “Tour du Maroc”, citing security measures put in place by the authorities to restrict large demonstrations and mass gatherings.

The authorities also cancelled the Judo Grand Prix in Rabat, scheduled for March 6-8, for the same reason.

The organisers of the Doukkala International Festival of Culture and Art postponed its 14th edition, which was originally scheduled for this month, and was going to welcome an Italian delegation in the western city of El Jadida to a later, unspecified date.