The ministry urges all people aged 18 to 60 and over, as well as people with chronic diseases to get the booster shot, six months after receiving the third dose, said Mouad Mrabet, coordinator at the National Center for Emergency Operations of Public Health.

For six weeks, Morocco has been experiencing the fourth wave of contamination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the second wave of Omicron, the official explained during the COVID-19 situation's monthly review. The latest reports of the national consortium of genomic monitoring show that the Omicron variant is still widespread with two main sub-variants BA.5 (70.5%) and BA.2 (23%), while other sub-variants account for 6% of the cases.

The rate of positive tests has reached 22.6% in the last two weeks, after recording an increase for five consecutive weeks, Mrabet explained, adding that the case reproduction index is now at 1. This means a potential peak in the number of new cases as the propagation of the virus has reached the red vigilance level in most regions of the Kingdom.

According to the official, the number of severe and critical cases admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has increased, but it did not reach the level of the 1st wave of Omicron.

In the last six weeks, 422 patients were admitted to intensive care and resuscitation, compared to the 1,925 admitted in the same period during the first wave of Omicron.

Regarding deaths, Mrabet observed that they are still stable at a low level, with a total of 42 deaths reported over the past six weeks.

Concerning the national vaccination campaign, the coverage rate of the booster dose has reached 18%, with a continuity rate of 27.6%.

The Ministry also calls on citizens to respect the preventive measures, especially during the period of Eid al-Adha. People with respiratory symptoms are urged to wear masks and stop all professional or social activity while going to health facilities for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.