Morocco reports 393 new COVID-19 cases, 14,215 in total

Rabat - Morocco on Sunday reported 393 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections in the country since March 2 to 14,215. The surge of infections in Morocco was caused by an outbreak of the virus in the western city of Safi which has many industrial units specialized in canning and processing of sardines. The city was placed under quarantine on Sunday and 18 sardines processing units were closed. A travel ban to and from the city was also introduced. Access to the city's beaches was prohibited and two major community-based markets were shut down. Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 9,725 after 396 new ones were added, while the death toll rose to 235, said Hind Ezzine, head of the Department of Epidemic Diseases of the Ministry of Health. In addition, 4,255 contacts with the coronavirus patients are still under medical surveillance, while 17 patients are in intensive care.

The COVID-19 death rate in Morocco stabilizes at 1.7 percent, with the recovery rate at 68.4 percent, Ezzine noted. China has helped Morocco in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. A batch of medical supplies donated by the government of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was transported on June 8 to Casablanca-Settat in Morocco. On May 14, China Development Bank sent a batch of donation, including respirators and medical protective masks, to Morocco to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. China's Guizhou Province also donated 15,000 surgical gloves, 20,000 medical masks and 2,000 protective suits to help Moroccan medical workers fight the pandemic.