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Rabat – King Mohammed VI spoke of the growing COVID-19 crisis in Morocco during the annual Throne Day speech that marks the 22nd anniversary of his ascension to the throne.
The king expressed the personal nature of the COVID-19 epidemic, describing the issue as “a difficult situation for all of us, for me and my family, as for all citizens, because I see Moroccans suffering.”
“Indeed, when I see Moroccans suffer, I, too, feel their pain and experience the same feelings,” the king stated in the televised address to the nation.
King Mohammed VI paid particular attention to the current public health crisis, raising the issue as the first of several items in his speech. The king extended his thanks to “the entire staff working in the health sector – in the public, private and military sectors – and to the security forces and public authorities.”
These front-line workers, he stated, have shown “dedication and keen spirit of responsibility“ in their response to the pandemic.
The king expressed concern not just with the medical impact of the crisis but also for those who are facing a difficult economic situation because of the consequences of the virus. Besides the personal impact of the virus, the king further highlighted how the virus has hampered ongoing government projects and economic activity across Morocco.
He emphasized Morocco’s achievements in regard to its acquisition of vaccines amid a global struggle in the face of an extreme shortage of vaccines. He described the issue aptly as a “battle for vaccines, which is far from being an easy one.” King Mohammed VI commended the national vaccination campaign and the “citizen’s massive engagement in it.”
The King additionally commented on the upcoming domestic production of COVID-19 vaccines, describing the project as a key component of “the country’s strategic security.”
King Mohammed VI’s words of gratitude, pain, and hope come at a time of an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, driven by the emergence of the Delta variant of the virus, in Morocco. This week Morocco broke all previous records by recording 3,000 more new daily cases compared to the previous record.
Amid a global rise in cases, the north African country recorded another 7,529 new cases on Saturday, July 31, despite lower testing due to the weekend. The country’s health officials issued 32,281 tests in the past 24 hours.
For many experts watching Morocco’s new wave of infections, the country’s greatest challenge in days and weeks ahead is the expected rise in severe and critical cases among people hospitalized with COVID-19. Moroccan hospitals are currently caring for 950 patients with severe symptoms of the virus, with 548 patients on breathing support.
Rising hospitalizations has led to an increasing number of intensive care units being occupied by COVID-19 patients. Within a month, occupancy rates have risen from 7.8% to today’s 30%. Unfortunately, another 53 people succumbed to the virus in the past 24 hours, leading to a total of 9,785 deaths caused by COVID-19 since the emergence of the virus in Morocco.
