Close residential neighborhoods and beaches
Morocco strengthens measures to address the "Covid-19" epidemic in Marrakech and Casablanca
Morocco is witnessing an increase in the spread of the epidemic, with more than 1,000 new infections daily. ■ archive
Morocco decided to strengthen measures to address the "Covid-19" epidemic in the cities of Marrakesh and Casablanca that were most affected by its outbreak, by closing residential neighborhoods and beaches, and tightening surveillance at the ports leading to them, according to what the government announced in a statement yesterday.
The new measures include closing 12 neighborhoods in Marrakesh (south) and "all marginal outlets" leading to the city, with "tightening surveillance" in them, as well as closing public parks, and stopping work in markets at five in the evening, according to the statement.
Activists and workers in the health sector in the tourist capital of the Kingdom warned in recent days of the "seriousness" of the situation there, directing harsh criticism of the conditions of caring for patients in one of its hospitals.
For his part, the Minister of Health, Khaled Ait Al-Taleb, announced, on Wednesday night, Thursday, on a visit to the city, measures to alleviate the pressure on this hospital.
The new measures also include closing the beaches of the economic capital Casablanca (west) and its suburbs, starting tomorrow, with the continued closure of several neighborhoods there, in addition to preventing cafes from transmitting football matches that usually lead to great crowding in them.
The government also announced similar measures in the city of Beni Mellal (center), where six neighborhoods are closed, starting from Friday. While the precautionary measures were tightened earlier in Tangiers (north), Fez (central), and Rabat (west), with the re-deployment of armored personnel carriers and security checkpoints.
Transportation to and from eight cities, including Casablanca and Marrakech, has been prohibited since late July, except in exceptional cases.
Morocco is witnessing an increase in the spread of the "Covid-19" epidemic, with more than 1,000 new infections per day since the beginning of August, which raises concern and criticism in the local media about managing the health crisis.
Since March, the epidemic has infected 46,313 people, of whom 743 have died, and 31,576 have recovered, according to the latest official toll.
Transportation to and from eight cities, including Casablanca and Marrakech, has been banned since late July.