COVID-19 Cases Continue to Drop for 9th Consecutive Week (Health Ministry)

Presenting the bi-monthly report of the epidemiological situation (September 28/October 11), the head of the communicable diseases division, Abdelkrim Meziane Bellefquih, stressed that COVID-19 cases have dropped from 10,000 weekly cases, two weeks ago, to less than 4,000 last week.

This trend, which was clearly confirmed during the past fortnight, has been reported in all the regions of the Kingdom with -52% in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, -51% in the Eastern region, -39.7% in Souss-Massa, -36.5%, in Beni Mellal-Khenifra, -36% in Casablanca-Settat, -33% in Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, -30% in Fez-Meknes, -29.6% in Draa-Tafilalet, – 24.7% in Laayoune Sakia-El Hamra, -23.8% in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, -17.3% in Marrakech-Safi and -2.1% in Guelmim-Oued Noun.

The virus reproduction rate (R0) continued to decline to reach 0.8, as did the positivity rate, which fell from 8% to 4.5% during the same period.

The same trend was observed in the number of active cases, which fell from 17,000 to less than 7,000 cases as of Monday, October 11 (-60%).

Severe or critical cases plunged by 40% to 692 patients on the same date, down from 1,148 two weeks ago. As a result, the occupancy rate of the Covid-19 resuscitation beds is around 12%, compared to 21% on September 28.

The number of intubated patients has recorded a significant drop of 21% during the last two weeks, while the weekly death curve has registered a sharp drop for the seventh week in a row (118 deaths against 172 deaths, i.e. a decrease of 31.4%).

In addition, Mr. Bellefquih noted that severe cases of Covid-19 infection particularly affect the elderly, people with serious diseases or obesity as well as pregnant women, adding that contaminations of vaccinated people usually occur 6 months after the vaccine injections.

The ministry reiterated its call to citizens to comply with the preventive measures in force and to participate massively in the national vaccination campaign.

 

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse