Morocco to spend $200 mln on medical equipment to counter covid-19

Morocco will buy ventilators, intensive care beds and laboratory equipment worth $200 million as the country struggles to contain the spread of the virus, the finance ministry said.

Morocco is buying 1000 intensive care beds, 550 ventilators, 100,000 testing kits, 100,000 collection kits, imaging and scanning devices, pharmaceutical products and other equipment key to treating coronavirus cases.

The number of confirmed cases in Morocco surged to 345 Friday evening, including 23 deaths and 11 recoveries.

The $200 million amount will also be dedicated to increase payment of health workers and the disinfection and protection of health infrastructure.

The EU will redirect €450 million in aid to Morocco including €150 million that will be directly sent to the special anti-coronavirus fund, a joint Moroccan-EU statement said.