Maghreb Edition

Morocco: First coronavirus death in Casablanca

Posted On 10 March 2020

Number of times this article was read : 285

Rabat, March 10, 2020 – Morocco’s health ministry said Tuesday the country had recorded its first death linked to the new coronavirus, an 89-year-old woman who suffered from chronic health problems. The woman, a Moroccan citizen who had been living in Italy, “suffered from chronic illnesses affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular system”, the
ministry said in a statement.  She returned to Morocco in late February, before testing positive for the virus and being transferred under medical supervision to a hospital in
Casablanca, according to the statement.

Two other infections have been confirmed in the kingdom — a Moroccan man who came home from Italy and a French tourist who arrived in Marrakesh on Saturday. Both are under medical supervision.

Moroccan authorities have imposed restrictions on sporting and cultural events, including closing stadia to the public. Local media outlets have reported that the vital tourism sector is being hit by cancellations of travel bookings. Several people have been arrested by authorities in recent days for allegedly spreading misinformation on coronavirus on social networks.

By AFP
Other Articles in this Week's Issue<< Mauritania: Italy denies tourists knowingly evaded Mauritania virus containmentEgypt: Foreign tourists stranded in Nile cruise over coronavirus flown back home >>
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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.

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