(ANSA-AFP) - RABAT, 07 SEPT - Morocco, faced with a strong increase in coronavirus infections, has ordered the return of the lockdown in Casablanca, the country's main economic center.
Schools, which were supposed to reopen today, will remain closed for at least two weeks as new measures include restrictions on circulation and a night curfew.
The authorities announced it.
Yesterday the reopening of the borders to tourism was announced, with a reservation and anti-Covid negative test, and, at the moment, it does not appear to have been revoked.
"We risk being overwhelmed by the virus," Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb told the official Map-agency.
"Therefore, drastic measures are needed, otherwise the situation could get out of control in the coming days."
The country has seen a coronavirus peak in recent weeks.
Only yesterday there were 2,234 new infections, a record for a single day, of which 42 per cent in Casablanca.
Authorities attribute the spread of Covid-19 to people's failure to comply with health protocols.
Casablanca, along with Marrakesh, had already been subject to a number of restrictions three weeks ago, including beach closures and reduced working hours.
Authorities today decided to close all educational establishments, including primary, middle and high schools, as well as universities, after epidemiologists expressed concern about the health system's ability to respond to the crisis.
The roads out of Casablanca to the main cities have been closed since noon, with travel only permitted with "exceptional authorization" issued by local authorities.
Since detecting its first case in early March, Morocco has recorded 72,394 cases of Covid infection, including 1,361 deaths.
(ANSA-AFP).
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