Covid-19: 68 New Cases in Morocco, 602 in Total

31 March 2020 Printable Version

Rabat - Sixty-eight new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) were reported in Morocco over the past 24 hours until Tuesday at 6 p.m., bringing to 602 the total number of covid-19 cases in the Kingdom, said Director of epidemiology and fight against diseases at the ministry of Health, Mohamed El Youbi.

Three new deaths from coronavirus complications were reported, bringing the number of fatalities to 36, while ten people have recovered which rises to 24 the number of recoveries, he added in a statement broadcast by MAP on its M24 channel and RIM radio.

He added that 90% of those who died from coronavirus complications are people vulnerable to the disease due to advanced age or chronic diseases which weaken the immune system of patients.

The average age of the deceased is 62, said the official, noting that the deceased who came from abroad represent 33%, while the percentage of local infections stands at 66%.

He also said that there were 2,298 excluded cases following negative tests, adding that 10 new recoveries have been reported, bringing the number of recovered people to 24.

The recoveries are confirmed after two negative tests, he pointed out.

Regarding the geographical spread of covid-19, the Casablanca-Settat region is still the hardest-hit one with 176 cases, ahead of Marrakech-Safi (107), Fez-Meknes and Rabat-Salé-Kenitra regions with 105 cases each and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (39).

The Casablanca prefecture tops the list with 169 cases, ahead of Marrakech (102), Rabat (58), Meknes (49) and Fez (36).

He also said that 55% of confirmed cases are men, while 45% are women, adding that the average age of all cases is 54 years, the youngest case being a 2 month old newborn against a 96-year-old man as the maximum age.

El Youbi pointed out that the highest number of coronavirus related deaths was recorded in the regions of Casablanca-Settat (8 cases), Marrakech-Safi (8) and Fez-Meknes (8), ahead of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region (4 cases), the Eastern Region (3), Beni Mellal-Khénifra (2), Souss-Massa (2) and Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (1).

The number of those who had contacts with infected people and are under medical supervision stands at 4,980, while 1,868 people, who had contacts with a coronavirus patient, ended the 14-day quarantine period.

Referring to the means of detecting covid-19, the official said the ministry is currently working on extending the laboratories network, noting that the aim is to detect coronavirus through nucleic acid test kits.