Covid-19: Morocco will close its borders after a first case of the Omicron variant

Published on : 12/16/2021 – 05:11

The first case of infection with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Morocco, which will soon close its partially reopened borders in the face of the “lightning” spread of the new variant, according to the authorities.

“This first case of contamination by the new Omicron strain was detected in a Moroccan citizen whose state of health is stable and does not cause concern,” the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday in a statement released by the MAP agency. The patient was placed under medical supervision in a hospital in Casablanca, the economic capital of the kingdom, the statement added.

According to the Minister of Health, Khalid Aït Taleb, the variant identified is local. “After investigation, we discovered that this variant is not entering, it is local. It is the result of a mutation in the city of Casablanca”.

“Lightning spread”

The authorities have also decided to put an end from December 23 to the system put in place to allow Moroccans stranded abroad to return to their country. This decision was taken because of “the meteoric spread of the Omicron variant on a planetary level and its worrying progression in the European neighborhood of Morocco”, according to the interministerial committee for monitoring the Covid.

Announced Monday, the partial lifting of the closure of Morocco’s air borders, effective since November 29, was intended to allow “exceptionally” Moroccans trapped abroad to return to their country via Portugal, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

From December 23, passenger flights to the kingdom will again be prohibited, specifies the pandemic monitoring committee. However, the government authorizes special repatriation flights to foreign countries, especially to Europe.

Devastating impact

However, tourism professionals are alarmed at the devastating impact of the closure of borders on this vital sector for the kingdom’s economy, already undermined by an unprecedented crisis for almost two years.

The number of daily cases of contamination has been increasing since November 21 in Morocco. The increase is attributed to two main factors: non-compliance with barrier measures and non-adherence to the vaccination campaign, especially for the administration of the third dose, according to specialists interviewed by the information site Medias24.

A total of 22.8 million Moroccans received their second dose of the vaccine (62.5% of the population), 24.5 million the first dose (67%) and 2.1 million the third. The goal is to immunize 80% of the population, or 30 million people.

With AFP