06 – 08 August, 2020

  • Failure to wear a mask in Morocco would lead to a 300 dirhams fine

In view of the increasing number of cases of contamination, Morocco had decided to strengthen its existing legal measures. Thus, it has just introduced a fine of 300 dirhams against any citizen caught without his protective mask in public.

This new provision has been introduced to enforce “the state of health emergency and the precautionary measures to which citizens are bound”. Apart from the possibility of a prison sentence of up to “three months against offenders and fines of up to 1,300 dirhams”, already known, the Executive has just added the payment of a fine of “300 dirhams, to be paid immediately to avoid a trial”.

“Any violation of this rule will be the subject of a report written by a national security officer or the gendarmerie,” says the government, which specifies that it was obliged to do so following the general relaxation that was observed in compliance with the rules of wearing a mask and physical distancing.

This provision is therefore intended to ensure more effective implementation of the repressive provisions enacted by Decree-Law No. 2.20.292. “The payment of this fine will lead to the extinction of public action,” said government spokesman Said Amzazi. He said that “in the event that the offenders do not pay the fine, the report will be forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office in order to take the necessary measures within 24 hours of the offence being established.

For more information, please consult (in French) the following link.

  • Morocco extends state of health emergency until September 10, 2020

Scheduled to end on August 10, 2020 , four days from now, the state of health emergency is again extended for another month September 10, 2020. This decision was taken at the end of the government council meeting held this Thursday, in view of the latest developments in the epidemiological situation in Morocco, concerning the pandemic of the new coronavirus.

On March 19, the Ministry of the Interior had announced for the first time the state of health emergency, after the appearance of the first infectious outbreaks and the increase in cases of contagion by contact in Morocco.

For more information, please consult (in French) the following link.

P.S. Difference between the extension of the state of health emergency and the extension of the containment:

The state of health emergency was adopted in Morocco to better manage the pandemic. It consists of a set of rules that include restrictions on freedom of assembly (including restrictions on movement between cities and regions), freedom of assembly,  the opening of restaurants, mosques, closure of borders, etc. These measures can be alleviated or readopted depending on the sanitary situation. During this period it is necessary, for example, to wear a mask and maintain the physical distance necessary to halt the spread of the virus.

For deconfinement, the government of Morocco takes decisions according to the epidemiological situation in each province/region. The decisions taken are regularly updated on the following link.

  • Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases will be treated at home

Recommended by professionals, the home management of asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, already in force since August 3, has just been made official by a circular dated August 5.

In a circular addressed to the various officials of the Ministry of Health, Khalid Ait Taleb informs about the update of the protocol for the management of COVID-19 cases, the management of their contacts and the screening strategy.

Recommended by professionals and emergency physicians, home care is made official with this document dated August 5. It is indicated that this home care should only concern asymptomatic cases, provided that several conditions are met: absence of risk factors related to age, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, pathological obesity, organ failure, cancer and all immunosuppression.

In addition, the patient should not suffer from any psychological disorder and should be considered “capable of complying with the recommended precautions and reporting any clinical signs to the team in charge of the care, which can be contacted 24 hours a day”, the circular states. Another condition is having a well-ventilated single room.

The Ministry document also addresses those who are present under the same roof as the patient:

  • They must leave the home during the entire period of patient care and isolation (set at 14 days).
  • In the event that it is impossible for them to leave the home, “they must be considered close contacts and would need rigorous medical monitoring of their state of health on a regular basis,” it is stated.
  • If these same people represent risk factors and are unable to leave home, then the COVID-19 patient must be cared for in a hospital setting.

Regarding the treatment of those being cared for at home, “standard curative treatment, according to the current protocol,” is mentioned, in addition to “education about adverse effects and barrier and hygiene measures,” it is said. Moreover, daily telephone monitoring will be set up. An installation of Wiqaytna and other similar applications will also be done.

For more information, please consult (in French) the following link.