Coronavirus: Morocco’s Cohesion and Solidarity Is a ‘Lesson to Us All’ (British Newspaper)

British online newspaper Byline Times has published a long story on how Morocco was prompt to adopt precautionary measures to curb the spread of contaminations by the coronavirus and how Moroccans showed cohesion and solidarity to face the health crisis.

 

In the story titled “Morocco’s Cohesion and Solidarity is a Lesson to us All”, Jonathan Fenton-Harvey reports all the steps taken by Morocco since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the country on March 2 and focuses on the country’s widespread solidarity and the sense of oneness in Moroccan society amid the lockdown to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.

 

“While there is an abundant focus on the inevitable healthcare and economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Morocco’s widespread solidarity – which breaches all societal divisions – is a shining example of how those in society can help one another in such a period of crisis. A profound sense of hospitality and productive patriotism within Morocco has driven people from all backgrounds to come together to combat this virus and care for those who will be impacted.”

 

“Amid scenes of panic-buying and the hoarding of goods in supermarkets and lax compliance with social distancing advice in Western countries, Morocco has shown the strength of decisive action and consideration for one another, to minimize the virus’ spread and damage, especially towards society’s most vulnerable,” the author of the article points out.

Meanwhile, driven by an urge to help those in desperate need in these uncertain times, Moroccans are taking part in civil society initiatives, many of which are independently motivated gestures, the author of the story stated noting that “in major cities such as Rabat and Marrakech, people are also offering empty houses to doctors near hospitals. In Casablanca, restaurants are offering meals to medical staff.”

Because of the lockdown, people are providing food and medicine to each other, especially to elderly people and those suffering from a chronic disease, while others have also used cars and motorbikes to deliver food to families and those who cannot leave their homes, Jonathan Fenton-Harvey stated. He noted that tourists left stranded due to international flight restrictions are also benefitting from Moroccans’ hospitality and help.

 

The author of the article also detailed the decisive and progressive measures adopted by Morocco to limit the spread of the virus, but also to alleviate the inevitable economic burden resulting from lockdown.

Morocco announced on March 19, it will pay a stipend to people who lose their jobs, while defer tax and debt payments to small businesses, the paper noted, after it recalled the setting up of the special fund for the management of the coronavirus crisis, that it described as a most significant measure.