COVID-19: Morocco extends state of health emergency to July 31

The Moroccan Government decided this Thursday at the cabinet’s weekly meeting to extend the state of health emergency until July 31, 2022, to continue to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of measures taken by public authorities to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Government Council examined and adopted, this June 23, a draft decree, presented by the Minister of the Interior, extending the state of health emergency throughout the national territory until July 31, 2022.

The state of health emergency, in force since March 2020 and that was scheduled to expire this June 30, seeks to preserve the progress made by Morocco in fighting the pandemic and minimize the danger related to the virus variants.

The state of health emergency enables the government to make swift, necessary decisions and update its preventive measures depending on the epidemiological situation.

This umpteenth extension of the state of health emergency comes at a time Morocco is experiencing an increase in daily COVID-19 cases that exceeded these past days 3000.

The surge in COVID-19 cases was described as alarming by health officials, who warned that the latest increase in cases marks the beginning of a new wave.

They imputed this surge mainly to lack of respect of health protocol and preventive measures.

Tayeb Hamdi, a Moroccan doctor and researcher in health policies and systems, was quoted by the news outlet MWN as saying that the number of cases and COVID-related fatalities will increase in the coming weeks.
He called on citizens to receive the booster vaccine, emphasizing the importance of a potential fourth shot for people aged 80 and up and for those suffering from chronic diseases, according to MWN.