Coronavirus/Morocco: More than 50% of Infections Were Recorded in August

During the first 23 days of August, approximately 54% of the total number of new Coronavirus infections detected since last March have been recorded. 

Therefore, as of August 23, the infection frequency of the new Coronavirus has reached an estimated rate of 77 per 100,000 people, said on Tuesday the coordinator of the National Center for Emergency Operations in Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Mouad Mrabet during the weekly statement on the epidemiological situation in the Kingdom. He added that 60% of the deaths were recorded during this period.

Regarding the total number of infections, Mr. Mrabet stressed that it totals 52,349 cases. This represents a total incidence rate of 144 people per 100,000 and the total number of deaths 888 (a mortality rate of 1.7%). As for the total number of recoveries, he explained that it stands at 36,343, or nearly 69%.

According to the official, between August 17 and 23, there were 9,860 cases of infection, including 37 imported cases, which represents a weekly infection rate of 27 people per 100,000. He added that during that week there were 230 deaths and 6,999 recoveries.

He added that last week recorded an increase of nearly 6.6% in the number of infections and 43.8% in the number of deaths. He regretted that the rate of cumulative incidence is also in constant increase.

In terms of the geographical distribution of Covid-19 infections in the Kingdom, Mr. Mrabet pointed out that 24 provinces recorded less than 10 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, while 6 provinces recorded more than 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. These provinces are Boulmane, Youssoufia, Casablanca, Marrakech, Beni Mellal and Sefrou.

The rate of active cases has reached 41 per 100,000 inhabitants last week, the official said, divided into 5 groups of regions: the region of Oriental with less than 10 active cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the regions of Guelmim-Oued Noun and Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra between 10 and 20 active cases per 100.000 people, The regions of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Fez-Meknes, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Souss Massa and Draâ-Tafilalet (between 20 and 40 active cases per 100,000 inhabitants), the regions of Béni Mellal-Khénifra and Marrakech-Safi (40 to 50 active cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and the regions of Casablanca-Settat and Dakhla-Oued Dahab (more than 50 active cases per 100,000 inhabitants).

It should be noted that Morocco stands at the 49th place worldwide and the 3rd on the continental level in terms of number of cases of Covid-19 infection.

The Kingdom is also ranked 49th globally and 5th continentally in terms of number of deaths and 31st globally and 2nd continent-wide and 1st in North Africa in terms of Covid-19 screening tests, he continued.

Mr. Mrabet explained that the wearing of protective masks is mandatory in all public places.  He also stressed that the nature of the virus has not changed, pointing out that post-confinement conditions have further increased transmission of the virus.

Regarding the transmission of Covid-19 by insects or domestic animals, the official stressed that the virus is transmitted directly from person to person, adding that rare cases of infected animals have been recorded in some countries.

The official confirmed the importance of not wearing protective masks during physical exercise as part of the Ministry’s awareness messages, explaining that wetting the mask causes breathing difficulties and the spread of germs.

In this regard, he stressed the need to give priority to outdoor sports and avoid closed areas, while maintaining a social distance of at least one meter.

The Ministry called on citizens to strictly respect the health measures taken, given the significant increase in the number of infections, active cases, serious cases and deaths.

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