Morocco steps up coronavirus tests

Six university hospitals started conducting coronavirus tests bringing the number of total laboratories testing for covid-19 to nine as many others in different regions are being prepared for the same task, the health ministry said.

So far, six university hospitals in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Oujda, Fez, and Agadir are equipped to test for Covid 19 as total cases in the country rise to 1888 including 126 deaths and 217 recoveries.

The university hospitals will now alleviate the burden on the three laboratories in Rabat and Casablanca and will enable getting results within hours.

The ministry also plans to double the number of tests from 500 daily in the upcoming few days.

Morocco has earmarked 200 million dollars to acquiring testing and collection kits, intensive care beds and chloroquine to treat patients as well as other medicine and equipment to counter coronavirus.