The more than 4 million inhabitants of Casablanca are primarily confined to their homes for the time being. Their freedom of movement will be restricted, and a curfew will be in effect for the next two weeks.
All routes to other major cities have been closed on Monday since noon. Travel is only allowed in exceptional cases. The schools, which would reopen on Monday, will remain closed.
Due to the coronavirus, many restrictions already applied in Morocco’s largest city. “We risk being overwhelmed by the virus”, health minister Khalid Ait Taleb motivated the “drastic measures”.
The virus has flared up in Morocco in recent weeks. 2234 new infections were reported on Sunday, a day record. More than four out of ten cases were registered in Casablanca. The authorities attribute the increase to the lack of compliance with health protocols.
Three weeks ago, stricter rules were already introduced in the port city. For example, the opening hours of shops were shortened and the beaches closed. On Monday it was decided to close all schools and universities.
Not only because of the contamination risks at the start of the school year, but also because epidemiologists have expressed concerns about the care capacity.
Morocco has reported 72,394 corona infections since the beginning of March, with 1,361 people dead.