Morocco declares health emergency to counter coronavirus outbreak

Morocco has declared a health emergency and asked citizens not to leave home unless they receive an authorization from local authorities to buy essentials or go to work, an interior ministry statement said.

 

Movement will be restricted starting from Friday at 18:00 as a necessary measure after coronavirus cases started transmitting locally, the interior ministry said in a statement.

 

“Health emergency does not mean shutting down the economy,” it said, but rather exceptional measures to subject all movement to an authorization.

 

Therefore anyone who wants to go to work, convenience shops or markets, banks, pharmacies, telecommunication agencies, petrol stations and other essential shops will need an authorization from local authorities.

 

The statement reassured that authorities will make sure that foodstuff and medicine supply will be ensured.

 

The prime minister has urged earlier citizens to stay home as total coronavirus cases in the country rise to 63 including many locally transmitted cases.