Morocco-Italy: After flights, maritime links also suspended due to Coronavirus

After Morocco announced early Tuesday the suspension of all flights to and from Italy, which went under lockdown to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, the merchant navy decided later in the day the suspension of maritime links between Morocco and Italy.

In a note addressed to the shipping companies, the directorate of the merchant marine underlines that the transport of passengers between Moroccan and Italian ports is temporarily suspended, from this Tuesday March 10.

This decision is part of the measures taken by Morocco to combat the spread of the coronavirus, the note said.

“The shipping companies concerned must take the necessary measures to inform passengers and avoid their movement to the ports of departure,” insists the Merchant Navy in its note.

Italy, which is the virus epicenter in Europe with more than 9,100 cases and about 463 deaths, is hosting a large Moroccan community of more than 450,000 souls.

Besides, Italians are among the most numerous outbound tourists visiting Morocco, with more than 305,000 Italian tourists in 2019.

The two first coronavirus cases reported in Morocco, a 39-year man and an 89-year woman, both came from Italy. The old woman, who was suffering from chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases passed away this Tuesday noon.