Complicated day this Monday in Morocco. Faced with the risk of the spread of the coronavirus, the Moroccan authorities made the flash decision to impose travel restrictions on Sunday evening, concerning eight major cities. These include Marrakech and Tangier. These measures generated complicated situations on Monday.
The announcement of these measures via a joint statement from the Ministries of the Interior and of Health five hours before it took effect at midnight on Sunday even caused several road accidents, according to several local media. The mountain road leading from Marrakech to Ouarzazate was still blocked this Monday morning due to the influx of cars, according to the same source.
Crowded stations and traffic jams
On Sunday evening, crowds of travelers rushed to Casablanca's main bus station and on Monday, Mohammedia train station remained crowded, AFP noted.
The closure until further notice of eight cities - entry into and out of these agglomerations - which bring together more than half of the country's population, was decided because of the "considerable increase" in cases of contamination a few days before Eid al-Adha, the great Muslim feast of sacrifice, scheduled for Friday and traditionally marked by family reunions.
Contamination records in recent days
The cities concerned are the economic capital Casablanca, the tourist capital Marrakech (south), the port metropolis of Tangier, the second economic hub of the kingdom, but also Tetouan, Fez, Meknes, Berrechid and Settat.
Moroccan authorities announced in mid-July a new easing of containment measures adopted in March, with provisions to encourage domestic tourism and facilitate travel during Eid al-Adha, but the weekend was marked by records of contamination, with 811 cases on Saturday and 633 on Sunday.
The total number of officially registered cases in the country was 20,278 on Sunday evening, including 313 deaths. The severe restrictions on these trips were taken "in view of the non-compliance by the majority of citizens with preventive measures - social distancing, wearing a mask -", according to the official press release.
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