布鲁金斯学会-中东和北非针对COVID-19的政策和机构对策：摩洛哥（英文）-2020.12-23页_783kb

Summary of Policy and Institutional Responses to COVID-19 in Morocco

Core Content

Morocco's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by a mix of proactive public health measures and economic interventions, but has faced challenges in implementation, communication, and resource allocation. The country accounted for 9% of all confirmed cases in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by November 2020, and experienced significant spikes in infections and deaths during the summer and late autumn of 2020.

Main Points

• Initial Response: Morocco implemented a strict lockdown and border closures starting in March 2020, which initially helped control the spread of the virus. However, these measures were not uniformly enforced across the country.
• Health System Weaknesses: Morocco's healthcare system is underfunded and lacks sufficient personnel and infrastructure, leading to challenges in managing the surge of cases and providing adequate treatment.
• Testing and Treatment: Morocco expanded testing in mid-April 2020, conducting over 2 million tests by September. Field hospitals were set up to address the lack of capacity, but patients reported poor conditions and limited resources.
• Economic Response: The government introduced measures to support small and medium businesses, including loan deferrals and interest-free loans. However, the economic support was limited in scope and scale, and communication was inconsistent.
• Vaccination Efforts: Morocco prioritized vaccine acquisition, signing agreements with Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, CanSino Bio, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. A national vaccination campaign was planned for all citizens over 18, with a launch date expected in mid-December 2020.
• Social Distancing and Mobility Restrictions: Strict social distancing measures were enforced during the initial lockdown, but enforcement became inconsistent over time. Citizens were required to have authorization to leave their homes, and public transportation was restricted.
• School Closures: Schools were closed from March to September 2020, with a shift to a hybrid model in September. Some schools remained closed due to local outbreaks.
• Border and Travel Policies: Morocco closed its borders and suspended most international and domestic travel. Repatriation flights were eventually introduced, and travelers were required to show a negative PCR test.
• Communication Issues: Despite daily updates, communication was often inconsistent and lacked transparency, especially regarding lockdown decisions and the use of funds.

Key Information

• Confirmed Cases and Deaths: As of December 1, 2020, Morocco had 359,844 confirmed cases and 5,915 deaths.
• Unemployment: The unemployment rate increased to 13% by the second quarter of 2020, with a record 22.6% among young people.
• Testing Expansion: Morocco conducted 1.79 million tests by August 2020, and by September had reached 2.1 million tests. Testing increased to over 25,000 per day in October.
• Vaccine Trials: Morocco conducted Phase III trials of the Sinopharm vaccine from August to November 2020, with 600 beta participants. The country was expected to receive 10 million doses by the end of 2020.
• Institutional Response: The government's response was led by the king, the makhzen, and key ministers rather than the formal government structures. The National Scientific Committee and Economic Monitoring Committee were established to address health and economic impacts, respectively.
• Operational Committees: Regional committees were formed to monitor outbreaks in farms and factories, with visits to 12,313 institutions between April and June 2020.
• Protests: While there were no major protests related to lockdowns or closures, healthcare workers and employees of Royal Air Maroc protested over working conditions and economic impacts.

Summary of Governmental Structures

• National Scientific Committee: Composed of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, military doctors, Royal Gendarmerie, and the Director of Civil Protection. It is chaired by the King and oversees epidemiological and public health surveillance.
• Economic Monitoring Committee: Chaired by the Minister of Economy, it includes representatives from several ministries and economic institutions. It aims to support informal sector workers and mitigate economic consequences.
• Role of the Makhzen: The makhzen, including mqadems and security forces, played a central role in enforcing lockdown measures and managing the crisis.

Conclusion

Morocco's response to the pandemic has been marked by initial success due to strict lockdown measures and proactive policies, but has faced significant challenges in implementation, communication, and resource management. The healthcare system's weaknesses and the lack of coordination between different governmental bodies have hindered the effectiveness of the response. While the government has made efforts to secure vaccines and support the economy, the outcomes have been mixed, with a sharp increase in cases and deaths by November 2020.