Morocco has been gradually easing lockdown measures over the past month, but officials have warned that total lockdown is still an option.
Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Health has reported 633 new COVID-19 cases, 156 recoveries, and eight related deaths in the past 24 hours.
As of June 26, Morocco has confirmed a total of 20,278 cases of COVID-19, as well as 16,438 recoveries and 313 deaths.
The recovery rate currently stands at 81.06% while the fatality rate is 1.54%.
Of the 633 new cases, 469 are receiving treatment for COVID-19. Total patients receiving treatment amount to 3,527.
The Casablanca-Settat region still has the highest number of confirmed cases in the country (5,067), followed by Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (4,731), Marrakech-Safi (3,220), Fez-Meknes (2,658), and Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (2,210).
Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra has 831 confirmed cases, Draa-Tafilalet has 618, the Oriental region has 402, Beni Mellal-Khenifra has 203, Guelmim-Oued Noun has 160, Souss-Massa has 114, and Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab has 63.
Since the start of the outbreak on March 2, Moroccan laboratories have ruled out 1,126,895 potential cases of the virus. In the past 24 hours, Morocco has carried out 20,327 screening tests for COVID-19.
Morocco is the first in North Africa and the second in Africa in terms of COVID-19 tests, according to the health ministry.
Morocco recorded a new daily high of 811 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, July 25. The country has been gradually easing lockdown measures over the past month, but officials have warned that total lockdown is still an option.
“The virus is still present and awaits the slightest opportunity to spread further,” Minister of Health Khalid Ait Taleb said on Saturday.
He called on Moroccans to show “maturity” and “responsibility” during the upcoming Eid Al Adha celebrations by avoiding unnecessary travel and limiting physical contact during family gatherings.
Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani has similarly advised Moroccans to limit nonessential travel during the holiday to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases, Morocco’s Ministry of the Interior reiterated on Saturday that it is mandatory to wear face masks in public places to prevent the spread of the virus.
The regulation is in line with “a constant and continuous concern to preserve the health and safety of citizens.”
“Anyone who violates this provision is liable to the penalties provided for in Article 4 of Decree-Law No. 2.20.292, which provides for a prison sentence of one to three months and a fine varying between 300 and 1,300 dirhams, or one of the two penalties without prejudice to the most severe criminal penalty,” the ministry underlined.
Moroccan police “will not hesitate to apply the sanctions provided for by law against any person having violated the obligation to wear a protective mask.”
Read also: Morocco’s COVID-19 Case Count More Than Doubled in Last 6 Weeks
