June 8 – 10, 2020


Plan for the progressive lifting of the confinement announced: division of Morocco into two zones

Plan for the progressive lifting of the confinement unveiled: division of Morocco into two zones
“In order to preserve the achievements of our country in the control of the COVID-19 epidemic and taking into account the risks of spreading the virus that still exists and to protect the health the population in Morocco, the Government Council approved Decree No. 2.20.406 on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 extending the validity of the state of health emergency throughout the territory. This extension will last one month, from Wednesday 10 June 2020 at six o’clock in the evening to Friday 10 July 2020 at six o’clock in the evening to deal with the COVID-19 epidemic. The extension is also intended to determine the specific requirements for easing the associated restrictions.

In this context, and as part of the preparation for a return to normal life and the resumption of economic and social activities throughout the national territory, the public authorities have decided to put in place a plan to reduce containment measures in accordance with the epidemiological situation for each region and gradually in several stages, starting on 11 June 2020.

According to this plan, the provinces and regions of the Kingdom will be divided, according to the criteria set by the health authorities, into two regions :

Zone No. 1, which includes:

Provinces of the Eastern Region (L’oriental)

Provinces of Beni Mellal – Khenifra

Prefectures and Provinces of Daraa-Tafilalet

Provinces of Souss-Massa

Provinces of Guelmim-Oued Noun

Provinces of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra Region

Provinces Dakhla Region – Oued Ed-Dahab

El-Madyek-Fnideq Prefecture

Tetouan provinces

Anjarah Province

Al Hoceima Province

Province of Chefchaouen

Wazzan Province

Meknes Prefecture

Province of Ifrane

Province of Moulay Yacoub

Province of Sefrou

Province of Boulemane

Taounate Province

Taza Province

Khemissat Province

Sidi Kassem Province

Province of Sidi Slimane

Province of Settat

Province of Sidi Bennour

Chichaoua Province

Al Haouz Province

Province of Kelaat Saragna

Essaouira Province

Al-Rahmanah Province

Safi Province

Youssoufia Province

Zone No. 2, which includes :

Tangier-Asilah Prefecture

Province of Larache

Fez Prefecture

Province of El-Hajeb

Rabat Prefecture

Salé Prefecture

Prefecture of Skhirat – Témara

Kenitra Province

Casablanca Prefecture

Mohammadia Prefecture

El Jadida Province

Nouaceur Province

Province of Mediouna

Province of Benslimane

Province of Berrechid

Province of Marrakech

The gradual transition, as part of the plan for mitigating the containment measures from one stage to the next, will be subject to a process prior to the evaluation of the measures to be implemented and the conditions required at the level of each region. This will be done by vigilance and monitoring committees, chaired by the Governors and composed of representatives of the Ministry of Health and the other ministries concerned and security officers.

Thus, the situation in the provinces and regions will be assessed weekly, according to the situation in the two regions and according to the criteria set by the health authorities.

To ensure the success of the gradual reduction of the confinement measures, and to avoid the re-emergence and spread of the virus in various places and avoid its spread in areas free of it, the public authorities call on all citizens and residents to continue to respect and strictly adhere to all precautionary restrictions and applicable health procedures (wearing of masks, physical distancing, …etc).

In the first phase, starting on 11 June 2020, the easing of containment restrictions will be initiated as follows :

Resumption of economic activities at the national level:
Industrial activities ;
Commercial activities ;
Traditional industrial activities ;
Local activities and minor local occupations;
Local trade ;
Liberal professions and similar occupations;
Reopening of weekly markets.

The following activities are excluded from this list: on-site restaurants and cafés, bathrooms, cinemas and theatres, etc.

Alleviation of restrictions in Region 1 :

Going out without the exit permit within the prefecture or province
Resumption of urban public transport with maximum 50% capacity utilisation ;
Mobility within the territorial area of the residence, without compulsory provision of a mandatory exit certificate (only the presentation of the national electronic identity card);
Reopening of hairdressing and beauty salons, while not using more than 50% of the capacity;
Reopening of open-air public spaces (parks, gardens, public places, etc.);
The resumption of individual outdoor sports (walking, cycling, etc …);

Maintain all other restrictions established in the event of a health emergency (prohibition of gatherings, meetings, weddings, funerals, etc.) …

Easing of restrictions in Region No. 2:

Exit still requires the exit certificate.
Stores close at 8:00 p.m;
Resumption of urban public transport with maximum 50% capacity utilization;
Maintain all other restrictions established in case of health emergencies (prohibition of gatherings, meetings, weddings, funerals, etc., …).

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

State of health emergency: July 10 deadline finally chosen after a moment of confusion

The duration of the extension is one month, instead of the two months initially proposed in the draft decree circulated a few minutes before the Government Council. The state of health emergency should, therefore, end on July 10, 2020.

At its exceptional meeting on 9 June, the Government Council finally decided to adopt Decree 2.20.406 extending the state of health emergency and enacting measures to ease the related restrictions, in the light of developments in the health situation.

In its Article 2, Decree 2.20.406 indicates that it is up to the Ministry of Interior to take the appropriate decisions to alleviate the containment and restrictions due to the state of health emergency while taking into account the evolution of the health situation.

More information will be given by Saâdeddine El Otmani who will address Parliament on June 10.

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


P.S. what is the difference between the extension of the state of health emergency and the extension of the confinement period?

The state of health emergency was adopted in Morocco to better manage the pandemic. It consists of a set of rules that include for example restrictions on freedom of assembly (including restrictions on movement between cities and regions), freedom of assembly, mobilization of health services, the opening of restaurants, mosques, the closing of borders, etc.  These measures may be alleviated depending on the health situation.

During this period it is necessary, for example, to wear a mask and maintain the physical distance necessary to stop the spread of the virus. The Ministry of  Interior, in consultation with local authorities will take appropriate decisions to alleviate the confinement  and the restrictions due to the state of a health emergency, taking into account the evolution of the health situation. Further details will be available on June 10, 2020.