Coming into force on March 20, the confinement of Morocco is based on the division of the country into two zones. While the first of these areas is preparing to return to “almost normal” life, the second remains confined until further notice.
The return to life “normal” for all is not yet relevant in Morocco. While many countries are accelerating their deconfinement, that of King Mohammed VI is focusing above all on security. Thus, on June 9, the state of health emergency has been extended until July 10which means that gatherings remain prohibited, places of worship, cafes and restaurants closed, wearing a mask is compulsory… “We waited three months and we whine for three more weeks!”considers Prime Minister Saad-Eddine El Othmani, as reported franceinfo.
The problem is that the gradual implementation of the containment easing plan started on June 11 does not concern the whole territory in the same way. In question: the division of Morocco into two zones, on which the confinement which entered into force on March 20 is based.
Zone 2, confined until further notice
The first zone concerns the least populated regions, as well as small and medium-sized towns, while the second is made up of the economic heart of the country Casablanca, the capital Rabat, the very touristy Marrakech, or the large port of Tangier. Thus, if zone 1 is about to regain life “almost normal” according to Africa Pointwith deconfinement, the end of a travel permit or the reopening of public spaces in the open air, zone 2 remains confined until further notice.
As our colleagues report, the Moroccan media have recently multiplied calls to lift the measures affecting the inhabitants of large cities. “Containment is difficult, but has allowed us to save livesjustified the Prime Minister on June 10 before Parliament, still according to Africa Point. Health indicators are improving. The case fatality rate is 2.5% and 92% of cases are mild or asymptomatic. But the situation differs from one region to another, from time to time a focus of contamination appears”.
An assessment of the local situation by the governors to change the situation
Nevertheless, the living conditions of the Moroccan population in zone 2 could change more quickly than expected. On the one hand, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit confirmed on June 15 before the House of Representatives that the process of gradually lifting the containment should be accelerated from June 20. Furthermore, he announced that the governors had received instructions to adapt “assessment of the local health situation in relation to the containment relief system”according to The Economist. This assessment should allow the prefectures registered in the first zone to access the second.
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