In order to guarantee optimal supervision of citizens' movements throughout the national territory, more precise indicators have been adopted for the classification of prefectures and provinces according to zones 1 or 2, he stressed in response to a question on "the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on local authorities" and "the evaluation of the state of health emergency and the efforts to fight Covid-19" at the House of Representatives.
The provinces and prefectures are assessed every week by the local steering committees for monitoring the epidemiological situation, he said.
In light of the indicators, he went on, preventive measures are taken when the average spread of the virus exceeds 50 cases per 100,000 people. Among these measures, the Minister Delegate cited the prohibition of travel to and from certain provinces except for people who present an exceptional authorization, in addition to the closure notably of public Hammams, gyms, parks and busy public spaces, malls and cafes.
It is also includes reducing by 50% the capacity of the means of transport, continuously controlling the compulsory wearing of masks, and the respect of social distancing in public spaces, he said.
Regarding the neighborhoods where clusters were detected, Boutayeb said that these areas are completely closed given the well-defined scientific and technical indicators. The measures adopted in this regard are related to the prohibition of movement to and from neighborhoods except for professional or health reasons after the presentation of an exceptional authorization for this purpose, as well as local shopping centers and supermarkets at 8:00 p.m.
He assured that the services of the Interior Ministry ensured the support of the new strategy by the health authorities with regard to the protocol of health care for symptomatic cases which require hospitalization.
Despite the difficulties and constraints associated with the virus and the long duration of its spread, our country remains able to overcome such a situation, not only by working to contain the crisis and its repercussions, but by using it as an opportunity for the expected economic recovery and the consolidation of social cohesion, he noted.
The ministry will ensure the establishment of a protocol for monitoring the spread of the virus in several cities through the analysis of samples of wastewater for the search for the virus DNA, so as to make it possible to identify active outbreaks, he said.
Boutayeb said in this context that Morocco, like other countries, will have to go through a difficult stage in the management of the epidemic as winter approaches, which requires greater collective mobilization and a new dynamic in the prevention and fight against the risks posed by the pandemic. It concerns promoting collective conscience and raising the awareness of national public opinion to the need of showing responsibility in the face of preventive measures for the coronavirus.
He also insisted on the special attention paid by the executive to Greater Casablanca in view of the number of cases of infection and deaths recorded in this region, affirming that the situation at the national level remains under control even if it is worrying.