Morocco COVID-19 Cases Fall Below 500 for First Time Since Early 2020

Morocco’s active COVID-19 cases fell to a record low on Friday, as active cases dipped below 500 for the first time since the emergence of the virus.

Rabat – Morocco’s active COVID-19 cases fell to a record low on Friday, as active cases dipped below 500 for the first time since the emergence of the virus. After two years of difficult public health measures, interrupted family gathering and toned-down religious celebrations, Morocco can celebrate a major milestone in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Morocco’s caseload has dropped significantly on a few occasions over the past two years, notably in the spring of 2021 and after that year’s autumn wave, current active cases have reached record lows.

Active cases in Morocco now stand at 442, as recoveries now structurally outmatch new infections. On Friday, April 22, Morocco reported only 47 new cases out of 7,190 performed tests, while 106 recoveries were recorded on the same day.

Morocco’s unique response to COVID-19 relative to its regional neighbors saw it procure Chinese vaccines at an early stage, while opting for often stringent preventative health measures that had a significant impact on the country’s economy and tourism sector.

It is hard to estimate the lives saved by Morocco’s tough but effective COVID-19 strategy, yet the country’s encouraging data shows that its health system never reached a breaking point at which extreme death rates would have been expected, as seen in India and Indonesia.

As Moroccans mark Ramadan, and prepare for the upcoming Eid-al-Fitr celebrations, a renewed sense of normalcy has returned in Morocco, with traditional prayers and family gathering occurring without the fear of mass infection that marred the past two years.

While many in Morocco suffered economically, the country’s current COVID-19 numbers, its remarkably high vaccine uptake and its gradual economic recovery can provide a point of pride for all who sacrificed personal freedoms and much-needed family connections over the past two years.