Morocco to speed up gradual lifting of lockdown

CASABLANCA - Morocco’s interior and health ministries announced Saturday the acceleration of the process of the gradual lifting the lockdown from June 20 as Moroccan breathed a sigh of relief after three months of being confined at home due to coronavirus outbreak.

The ministries said in a joint statement that the 700 current active cases of COVID-19 that were being treated will be brought together in two specialized health facilities located in Benslimane and Ben Guerir respectively.

They stressed that this measure will accelerate from June 20 the process of the gradual lifting of the lockdown.

“In view of the controlled evolution of the epidemiological and health situation linked to COVID-19 in the Kingdom, made possible thanks to the combined and constant efforts of citizens, the administration and all the components of Moroccan society; almost all of the nearly 700 active COVID-19 cases counted on a national scale are in a reassuring and stable state of health," said the statement.

"Instead of keeping these COVID-19 positive cases spread across hospitals in the kingdom, which must be released to treat other types of illness, and given the imperative to protect them and their family and professional environment, while providing them necessary care, it was decided to regroup them, as well as the future positive cases detected, within two specialized health structures, located respectively in Benslimane and in Ben Guerir," it added.

The medical follow-up will be managed jointly by civilian and military doctors at both hospitals.

“This regrouping will be accompanied by the continuation of massive screening measures for all contact persons, as well as at the level of businesses and professional spaces throughout the national territory,” said the statement.

The announcement came four days after the Moroccan government said it would start easing restrictive measures imposed to curb coronavirus infections but delay a full lifting of the state of emergency until July 10.

The different provinces and prefectures have been divided into two relief zones and will be reclassified on a weekly basis, according to criteria set by the health authorities.

Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Otmani told parliament on Wednesday that the North African country would go to the second phase of de-confinement, namely mobility between provinces, recovery of local tourism and further authorisations to businesses and shops if the indicators were green.

He said that the easing of the lockdown was made possible thanks to the sufficient stock of medical equipment, the increase in the number of screenings and the continuation of the system for monitoring contact subjects.

Moroccans are breathing a sigh of relief after clothing shops opened amid long queues, creating some movement in major cities that have gone eerily quiet in the last three months.

Cafes and restaurants are also open, but only for takeaways.

Morocco has been on lockdown since March 20. It has confirmed 8,734 coronavirus cases, including 212 deaths while 7,725 were cured as of Sunday morning.