Morocco: Covid-19 infections spread in Ouarzazate prison

Posted On 24 April 2020

Number of times this article was read : 76
Influencing the influencers: Some of The North Africa Journal's subscribers

Rabat, April 23, 2020 – More than 130 new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in a southern Morocco prison on Thursday where 60 people had already tested positive days earlier, according to prison authorities. The infections were recorded at a prison in Ouarzazate after 309 inmates were tested for the virus, the country’s prison service DGAPR said in a statement. “All of the detainees who tested positive have been isolated in a special ward where they will undergo the treatment protocol approved by the authorities,” the statement added.

The DGAPR said Monday that 60 prison staff and six inmates had tested positive for coronavirus, before declaring 133 more cases on Thursday. Around a dozen cases have also been recorded in prisons in the southern city of Marrakesh and Ksar Kebir in the north. The prison service said that cases of contamination in Morocco’s prisons — which hold 80,000 inmates — were under control because of “preventives measures” such as quarantines for workers with the respiratory disease.

In early April, more than 5,650 detainees were released in an effort to reduce the risk of the virus spreading in the country’s notoriously overcrowded prisons. Other Middle East and North African countries have also released prisoners, a measure UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has called for across the world as part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Morocco had confirmed 3,568 cases of coronavirus as of Thursday evening, including 155 deaths from the respiratory disease and 456 recoveries. The kingdom has imposed strict social distancing measures and made wearing a mask outside compulsory, with a public health state of emergency in place until at least May 20. Security personnel have been deployed to enforce the regulations, arresting more than 57,000 people since mid-March.

AFP
Other Articles in this Week's IssueEgypt: Ramadan under curfew >>
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Senegal at the Center of Another Geopolitical Fight

Senegal at the Center of Another Geopolitical Fight

By Arezki Daoud: France is experiencing an unprecedented backlash in the Sahel and in West Africa.  Disastrous post-colonial policies forced the people of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to expel French troops and diplomats, reducing Paris' entrenched but...

Mali: Al Qaeda attacks rebel convoy in the Ouagadou forest

Mali: Al Qaeda attacks rebel convoy in the Ouagadou forest

By MondAfrique:  A column of armed vehicles from the Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP), the Touareg rebel coalition driven out of Kidal, was attacked by fighters from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) on Friday in the Ouagadou forest, while that it was...

From a Russian Grain Export Onslaught to a Ban on French Cattle: Agricultural Trade Between France and Algeria in Standstill

From a Russian Grain Export Onslaught to a Ban on French Cattle: Agricultural Trade Between France and Algeria in Standstill

Agricultural trade between France and Algeria is experiencing challenges that are primarily affecting French exporters. From the onslaught of the Russian grain exports to Algeria, essentially displacing French exporters, to Algeria banning French cattle due to EHDV disease, not all is well between Algeria and France in the agricultural trade sector. The most affected parties in this situation are French producers and exporters, who are looking for new initiatives to fight back.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This