Authorities in Morocco have imposed tight new restrictions on movement in Casablanca and Marrakesh – the country’s main tourist hubs – following a spike in coronavirus infections.
Several districts of the two cities will be closed off, with restaurants, coffeehouses, and businesses operating at reduced hours.
The Moroccan government in a statement said cafes, restaurants, stores and shopping centres will close at 8 p.m. local time while street markets will close at 4 p.m. It said broadcasting football matches in cafes is also banned.
Some public parks and beaches in Casablanca have been closed.
Morocco registered 1,325 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths on Thursday, increasing the tally of infections since March 2 to 47,638, and the death toll to 775.
Activists and health workers have warned that public hospitals are in dire conditions due to the rapid surge of coronavirus infections since August 1.
In Marrakech, the North African country’s tourist hub, the accesses leading to 12 districts were closed to limit the flow of people.
The government statement also said controls will be reinforced in order to prevent people living in these cities from leaving their homes except for extreme necessity.
It added that entering and leaving these cities will be subject to an authorization issued by local authorities.
On Tuesday, partial lockdowns were ordered in the capital, Rabat, and the port city of Tangiers, with armored vehicles patrolling the streets and police manning checkpoints.