Morocco’s health ministry warns of setbacks as new variants surge

Morocco’s health ministry warned of the recent surge in coronavirus cases which risk sapping the headway made in containing the pandemic through vaccination and restrictive measures.

Morocco had gradually lifted anti-coronavirus measures including international travel restrictions allowing travelers from safe countries to enter the country while unvaccinated people were asked to quarantine.

The country has administered 19 million doses of vaccine and shortened a night curfew to four hours only while many restrictions were lifted on public gatherings amid a relaxation of caution by citizens.

This has led to a three-fold surge in new cases which exceeded 1000 a day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Health Minister Khaled Ait Taleb urged strict respect of precautious measures to avoid reversing the positive results achieved so far.

Morocco has confirmed 538,589 cases since the outbreak of the pandemic including 9346 deaths.