Morocco's Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani stated that the measures taken by his government to curb the spread of COVID-19 have helped save thousands of lives.
During the monthly debriefing on the government’s preventative measures, he warned that dangers remain and the situation requires greater caution and continued commitment to quarantine and the measures imposed by the authorities in various sectors.
The country will defeat this pandemic, he vowed.
On whether the government will extend the state of emergency, El Othmani said this depends on the developments linked to the outbreak. A decision will be taken on Monday.
He said that 82 percent of cases emerged locally due to virus clusters among families that had attended weddings or funerals. He also cited cases in suburbs where quarantine was not respected.
Morocco has confirmed 1,746 cases as of Monday, with 196 recoveries and 120 deaths.
Addressing MPs, El Othmani said: “We are living in an unprecedented situation and difficult international and regional conditions.” He warned that the coronavirus will have unprecedented health, economic and social repercussions.
Deputies applauded the preventive measures taken by Morocco to curb the spread of virus, as well as the government’s transparent handling of the crisis.
