20 – 23 June, 2020
The second phase of deconfinement will start on June 24, 2020 at midnight
A joint press release by the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and the Green and Digital Economy stipulates that on the basis of the decision taken by the public authorities to move to the second phase deconfinement from 24 June 2020 at midnight, and taking into account the need to strike a balance between the changing epidemiological situation in the Kingdom and the requirements of a gradual return to normal life, a set of measures have been adopted.
Measures for the resumption of economic activities at the national level:
Coffee shops and restaurants can provide their services, without exceeding 50 per cent of their capacity.
Resumption of commercial activities in shopping centres, large shopping complexes under specific conditions.
Reopening of leisure and entertainment shops, such as gyms and public bathrooms, with a maximum of 50% of their capacity.
Resumption of activities related to audiovisual and cinematographic production.
Resumption of public transport between cities, by road or rail, under specific conditions.
Resumption of domestic flights, under specific conditions.
New Measures in Zone 1:
Movement between regions, provinces and prefectures classified in zone 1 is allowed, provided that the national identity card is presented.
Reopening of beach areas, while respecting the physical distance required for protection.
Reopening of proximity sites/fields located in the open air.
Resumption of national tourist activities and opening of tourist institutions provided that they do not exceed 50% of their accommodation and food capacity.
New Measures in Zone 2:
Circulation is allowed in the area of employment or territory, without “exceptional mobility permit”.
It is compulsory to have a professional licence (mission order) or an exceptional licence issued by the local authorities in order to leave the area employment and territory.
Lifting the procedure for closing shops at 8 p.m.
Reopening of hair and beauty salons, with no more than 50% of their capacity.
Reopening of open-air public spaces, including parks, gardens and public places.
Resumption of individual outdoor sports activities, such as walking and cycling.
It was also decided to maintain, at the national level, all other precautionary restrictions that had been previously approved in the event of a health emergency (closure of museums, cinemas, theatres, public swimming pools, assembly blocks, weddings and funerals …).
To ensure the success of these measures, the public authorities call on all citizens to continue their full commitment and strict compliance with all precautionary measures and stress that, in the event of a new outbreak of the pandemic, the necessary measures will be taken to reduce its negative impact.
For more information, please consult (in Arabic) the following link.
Ministries of Interior and Industry and Trade call for strict compliance with recommended preventive measures
The Ministries of the Interior and of Industry, Trade and the Green and Digital Economy call on traders, craftsmen and offshore professionals to strictly and responsibly comply with the preventive and precautionary measures recommended by government authorities.
Following the joint communiqué that stipulated measures relating to the implementation of the second phase of the plan to reduce sanitary confinement, and in the context of accompanying the resumption of all economic activities in the Kingdom, the Ministries of the Interior and Industry, Trade and the Green and Digital Economy call on traders, craftsmen and offshore professionals issued a statement in which they call for strict and responsible compliance with the preventive and precautionary measures recommended by government authorities to ensure healthy working conditions, guaranteeing the health and safety of employees and customers and limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Central and local commissions will carry out intensive control operations, the same source added, saying that the competent authorities will, on the basis of the commissions’ observations, close any establishment or business that does not comply with health and safety regulations.
With regard to control operations in companies, production units and shopping centres, the communiqué states that they will focus on the seven main areas provided for in the protocol for managing the risk of COVID-19 contamination in workplaces, relating to the establishment of a COVID-19 prevention plan, work organization, training and awareness, specific sanitary measures, catering, employee transport and the care of symptomatic persons.
They must also appoint managers from among their employees as the main contacts of the control committees and would be responsible for strict and regular monitoring of compliance with these measures.
The above-mentioned protocol, as well as details of the various preventive health measures, can be consulted on the official website of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and the Green and Digital Economy (www.mcinet.gov.ma).
For further information, please consult (in French) the following link.
Al Boraq and Al Atlas trains will gradually resume on June 25
The Al Boraq and Al Atlas trains which provide inter-city services will gradually resume their operation from Thursday 25 June, in strict compliance with health protection and safety measures, announces the National Railways Office (ONCF).
Following the decision of the public authorities on the passage to the second stage of the “plan to alleviate health containment”, this resumption will take place on the Tangier-Casablanca, Fez-Casablanca-Marrakech, Casablanca-Nador and Oujda, Casablanca-Safi and Khouribga, as well as Tangier-Fez and Oujda routes, the ONCF said in a press release. In addition, local trains (Trains Navettes Rapides: TNR) will be reinforced on the Casablanca-Settat, Casablanca-El Jadida and Casablanca Rabat-Kenitra routes, according to the same source, adding that this programme, which includes a daily offer of 116 trains combined with the reopening of stations, will be gradually adapted according to the evolution of demand.
Regarding health protection and safety measures, ONCF insists on the compulsory wearing of masks, respect for social distancing in stations and onboard trains, reinforced and continuous cleaning and disinfection of trains and shared spaces in stations and the provision of hydroalcoholic gel in stations and onboard trains, in addition to the application of the exceptional measure of reducing sales capacity and occupancy to 50 per cent during this phase, with compulsory reservation in all trains.
Passengers are also required to comply with the provisions laid down by the authorities regarding the presentation of their National Identity Card (CIN) when acquiring travel tickets.
Concerning journeys departing from stations in zone 2, they are subject, as decreed by the authorities, to the obligation to have a professional authorisation or an exceptional authorisation issued by the local authorities for reasons of force majeure, the press release points out.
For more information, please consult (in French) the following link.
Establishment of a field hospital in Sidi Yahya El Gharb to receive nearly 700 cases registered in an epidemiological outbreak in the province of Kenitra.
Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit announced on Saturday in Rabat that following the outbreak of coronavirus in some units specializing in the packaging of red fruits in the province of Kenitra, a field hospital has been set up in the commune of Sidi Yahya El Gharb to receive nearly 700 cases registered in this outbreak.
In a statement to the press, Mr Laftit said that following the outbreak, several measures have been taken including the carrying out of screening tests for all employees and the closure of all these units, adding that all these cases will be transferred to this hospital from Sunday morning.
The Minister also noted the tightening of sanitary containment measures in the communes under the jurisdiction of the provinces of Kenitra, Ouazzane and Larache where these employees come from, calling on the citizens of these communes to strictly respect these measures in order to stop this outbreak as soon as possible and for life to resume its normal course in this region.
He also noted that these cases were discovered during tests carried out in all industrial, commercial and other units, which made it possible to detect this outbreak and bring it under control quickly.
The Minister also indicated that testing has been carried out for all contact persons, adding that this operation is continuing to date.
He also announced that it has been decided to open an investigation into the matter by a commission made up of the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Labour and Interior to identify the reasons for this outbreak.
For more information, please consult (in French) the following link.