Covid-19 in Morocco: masks, drugs and social safety net

Text by: Sabine Cessou Follow | Sabine Cessou Follow

The third most affected country in Africa, Morocco produces 3 million masks per day and has launched a special fund to fight the Coronavirus equivalent to 3% of its GDP.

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Particular sign of the pandemic in Morocco, the third most affected country in Africa with 2,855 cases declared and 141 deaths on the evening of April 19: the authorities anticipated the possible ravages of the crisis and stimulated national momentum, giving an example public policy that goes far beyond the continent.

Ten days after the appearance on March 4 of the first case of Covid-19 in a Moroccan from Italy, the borders and schools were closed, and confinement decreed on March 20, at the same time as the state of health emergency . The martial side of the measure has so far resulted in 44,200 arrests, including 24,000 people brought before the competent prosecution and 1,500 arrests.

Health personnel have not been returning home since March 25, but are staying in hotels. Over 12,000 rooms have been made available free of charge by various private and public groups. Since April 7, wearing a mask has been mandatory, punishable by penalties of up to three months in prison and a fine of 116 euros.

Reorientation of production in 10 textile industries

Ten textile factories, including one which produced diapers in Casablanca, reoriented their production at the end of March to manufacture 3 million surgical masks per day. "  There is an announcement effect, but masks are not yet available everywhere,  " says Rachida, a teacher from Marrakech. Nevertheless: the proactive policy of the Minister of Industry should see the volume double by the end of the month.

This production begins to be sold through 72,000 points of sale, pharmacies and food stores. The masks are sold in packs of ten for 8 dirhams, or 70 cents - a controlled and subsidized price. While the big cities disinfect the streets, which residents of lower-income neighborhoods also undertake to do themselves, the Ministry of Health has decided to treat patients with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Without controversy, experts who defended the measure, like the doctor and pharmaco-economist Othmane Boumaalif, who described it as "  courageous and necessary  ". The State bought on March 19 from the French pharmaceutical group Sanofi in Morocco all its stock of Nivaquine , produced locally, and of Plaquenil. 

Mass screening began in early April, with an objective - still not reached - of 10,000 tests per day, operated by nine laboratories. A first batch of 100,000 screening kits was imported from South Korea. As of April 19, approximately 14,000 people had been tested, identifying 2,855 positive cases and more than 11,300 negative cases. The increase in pace is impatiently awaited, some having been refused tests in March despite their symptoms, because they were too young and "  not entering the age group  ", according to the testimony of a manager of Casablanca.

Allowances for workers, even informal workers

The mechanics of economic measures were set in motion without delay: no less than 810,000 formal sector employees (one third of those registered with the National Social Security Fund, CNSS) who lost their jobs or found themselves in cessation of activity began to receive compensation of 90 euros corresponding to the second half of March. They will receive 180 euros per month for three months, until June, or 75% of the minimum wage.

Households can also ask their bank to postpone the maturities of their loans, real estate or consumption. Workers in the informal sector (41% of the working population) identified via the Medical Assistance Plan (Ramed) will receive between 75 and 112 euros depending on the size of the households, by SMS system since they are not banked. Likewise, the most precarious non-“Ramedist” households were called upon to register for similar aid between April 10 and 16, with the help of the mokadems, the neighborhood chiefs.

On the business side, the state will pay the social charges in April, May and June for those who maintain at least 80% of employment, while the social charges may be paid deferred for those who keep at least 20% of their workforce. A free moratorium was decided on credits and leasing, and an operating line of credit called Damane Oxygène was established on March 26, with the guarantee of the State, to ensure the working capital of the companies and allow them to pay wages.

Major resources: 3% of GDP collected in a special fund

How are all these measures orchestrated and financed? On the one hand, a Watch Committee (CVE) was set up on March 11 under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It brings together the key ministries (Interior, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Health, Industry, Tourism and transport, Labor), the Central Bank and employers.

On the other side, a special fund to fight the coronavirus was launched on March 15, when the country had only 28 cases and only one death. Open to contributions from everyone, citizens, businesses, public actors and development partners, it was boosted to the top. King Mohammed VI set the example, paying 180 million euros through his company of Al-Mada. Several ministers followed suit, as did large fortunes and dozens of foundations and associations.

Number of in-kind donations and one month's salary for all senior civil servants add to the MAD 33.7 billion in initial funding (ie EUR 3 billion and 3% of GDP). An impressive amount of which 30% comes from the state budget, 22% from public institutions and companies, 15% from a disbursement from the European Union (EU), the rest divided between foundations, associations and federations (10 %), banks and insurance (10%), private companies (13%) and individuals (1.1%). The real amount of the fund exceeds 3 billion euros and is not known, large fortunes and several companies did not wish to communicate on their contribution.

"  Only part of the fund is for the moment dedicated to the health sector, 180 million euros, with the possibility that we can subsequently go to 270 million," explains economist Abdelaaziz Aït Ali. The rest relates to direct transfers to households and sectors deemed to be priorities in the economy.  Some 550 respirators and 1,000 resuscitation beds, bringing the national capacity to 2,642 beds, were purchased. In addition, a temporary field hospital with 700 beds is being built on the Place des Foires in Casablanca, one of the centers of the epidemic.

The coming weeks will give an idea of ​​the results of all these measures, which few countries in the world have taken on this scale. In the meantime, the “Moroccan exception” relates mainly to the speed of its political decision-making. In a poll published on March 25 by the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (Mipa), 77% of those questioned said they were satisfied with the response, 58% trusted the government but only 26% in the public hospital.

The battle is far from won. Morocco, which is preparing for the worst, plans to cap its debt to borrow abroad. In a note published in March on the impact of Covid-19 in Morocco, the World Bank, the UNDP and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) predict a -1.5% recession in 2020 and the risk of seeing 10 of the 35 million Moroccans fall into poverty.

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