Morocco reported its first confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March 2, 2020. The government created an emergency committee chaired by the Minister of Finance in charge of monitoring the situation. The authorities declared a state of health emergency until August 10, 2020, initially, adopted containment measures, including quarantine, suspended all international passenger flights, forbid all public gatherings, and closed mosques, schools, universities, restaurants, cafes, and hammams. The authorities also decided to regulate prices and control the distribution channels of facemasks and hydro alcoholic gels.
Reopening of the economy. The authorities announced partial reopening measures starting June 11, 2020. Most businesses were authorized to resume, including dine-in at café and restaurants, theaters and hammams. The authorities eased restrictions in most rural areas and small towns, resuming operations of public transport and removing restrictions to movement and travel, including for domestic flights. International borders were reopened on July 14, 2020 for Moroccan nationals leaving abroad and foreigners established in Morocco. However, the increase in the number of cases in late July required to tighten restrictions in a number of urban areas that remain under a partial lockdown and now experience new restrictions to movements. Additional containment measures—including a national night curfew—were reinstated on December 23, 2020, initially for 3 weeks and later extended until further notice. On May 20, 2021, the government eased the length of the national night curfew. Large gatherings continue to be banned and wedding parties are not allowed in Morocco. On April 16, 2021, the government suspended air links with 13 additional countries until further notice—the closing of borders now covers 53 countries in total. The government also extended the state of health emergency until June 10, 2021.
COVID-19 Vaccine distribution plans. Morocco started a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign on January 28, 2021. The campaign aims at covering 80 percent of Moroccan population over 18 years old (about 25 million people). The campaign is relying on Morocco's network of primary health care institutions and mobile clinics. Priority is given to citizens in the frontline such as health workers, authority agents, security forces, teachers, elders and people with underlying health conditions. As of June 3, 2021, over 8.8 million persons received a first dose of vaccine and about 5.7 million are fully immunized.