Morocco has extended curfew hours starting two hours earlier at 9 p.m. (2000 GMT) and also tightens travel restrictions to three major cities in a bid to slow surging coronavirus cases.
According to the statement released by the government, a nationwide curfew in place since December is now in force from 9:00 pm (2000 GMT) to 5:00 am as against 11:00 pm to 4:30 am.
The business and tourist hubs of Casablanca, Agadir, and Marrakech will be closed except to holders of the vaccine pass or those on necessary travel, the government said in a statement.
Those who have had two vaccinations are exempt from the night-time curfew and travel restrictions.
Gatherings of more than 25 people are also prohibited, and hotels are limited to 75 per cent of capacity.
Existing restrictions remain, including a ban on funerals and wedding parties, as well as a 50 per cent capacity limit on public transport, in cafes, and in restaurants.
Morocco, with 36 million people, has recorded over 642,000 cases including almost 10,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
However, Morocco has outpaced other African peers in its vaccine push, administering 24 million doses of the AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines.
Last week, the country started administering Johnson and Johnson doses after receiving a shipment of 300,000 jabs.
