COVID-19: Morocco extends state of health emergency for fifth time in six months

Morocco has extended the state of health emergency, decreed in March, until September 10, 2020, as part of efforts to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The health emergency extension decree was approved this Thursday by a cabinet council, chaired by Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani.

This is the fifth time that the health emergency, first decreed on March 19, is being extended over the course of five months. The fourth month-long extension was set to expire on August 10.

This fifth extension comes as Moroccan medical services have struggled with a surge of cases over the last week, described as the country’s “worst week” since the start of the public health crisis in Morocco in early March.

The surge in the number of cases coincided with the Eid holiday and a high mobility of people despite the lockdown of eight major cities with high infections.

On Wednesday, Morocco registered the highest single day cases with 1283 infections, bringing the number of total cases to 28500, including 435 deaths and 19994 recoveries.

Active cases rose to 8042 including 108 in critical condition and 19 under ventilation, while total tests increased to 1,361,550.

WHO still considers that Morocco is in phase two of the pandemic. The country came second in Africa in terms of tests and sixth in infections.