Morocco to group Covid patients in two hospitals

Morocco will group together coronavirus patients in two  hospitals in Benslimane near Casablanca and Benguerrir near Marrakech in a step towards easing the confinement.

With some 700 coronavirus patients, mostly in good condition, Morocco will transfer coronavirus cases from different parts of the country to the two hospitals where patients will receive care by a team of civilian and military medics, the health and the interior ministries said in a statement.

This transfer will help free hospital capacity to offer medical care for other patients and will help speed up unlock easing, the two ministries said.

Morocco has extended the health emergency until July 10 but eased the lockdown amid calls for a return to normality from economic operators.

Most of economic activity has been unlocked except some businesses in the services sector such as cafes, cinemas and sports clubs.

By Saturday, total coronavirus cases in Morocco rose to 8,962 including 7,696 recoveries and 212 deaths. Total tests stood at more than 400,000.

As Morocco unlocks its economy, all enterprises have been asked to take mass tests for their staff.