"The strategy adopted by the Kingdom to curb the spread of Covid-19 is based on measures aimed at safeguarding public health and strengthening social and economic aspects during the various phases of the fight against the pandemic, that is to say from the beginning of the outbreak and during the current period marked by the implementation of a progressive easing of lockdown measures, on the basis of a clear vision and decisions", Laftit pointed out at the House of Representatives (lower house).

In this regard, he referred to the legislative decree on the provisions relating to the state of health emergency and the procedures of its declaration, which provides an appropriate legal framework for the government with a view to taking the necessary measures to fight against "any health threat" such as the coronavirus pandemic, to supervise the decisions adopted at the economic, social and environmental levels, and to suspend some activities and all the deadlines provided for in the legislative texts and regulations in force, in addition to closing borders.

He said that the management by the public authorities of this exceptional situation has made it possible to control the epidemiological situation and to avoid the worst scenario in the country, particularly in terms of infected people and the number of deaths, recalling the creation of the Special Fund for the Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic, set up upon high royal instructions, to cover the costs of upgrading medical equipment, support the national economy, mitigate the repercussions triggered by the pandemic and preserve jobs.

Laftit underlined the involvement of the Ministry of the Interior in the implementation of the high royal instructions, with seriousness, perseverance and dedication, while ensuring good coordination between the different services, noting the contribution of the Crisis Management Steering Committee, in coordination between the various stakeholders, through the creation of centralized steering centers in charge of monitoring the situation and proposing the measures to be taken.

At the territorial level, the minister explained that the Provincial Coordination Centers have played a key role in activating the health strategy and in coordinating the efforts of the various stakeholders, including elected councils, welcoming the mobilization of the all medical and paramedical executives, members of the Royal Armed Forces, agents and auxiliaries of local authorities, National Security, Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces and Civil Protection, as well as executives of the relevant governmental departments for their exceptional work, their selflessness and the spirit of responsibility they have displayed during this crisis.

He also said he was proud of the unprecedented national mobilization of all the components of the Moroccan people, in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and the initiatives undertaken by the public authorities to safeguard public health, adding that the positive results have been achieved thanks to the enlightened vision of HM King Mohammed VI and the precautionary and proactive measures taken to curb the spread of the virus and to mitigate its health, social and economic repercussions.

Regarding the measures taken to manage the current and next phases, Laftit indicated that the government has implemented an integrated vision through fundamental decisions, including the extension for one month of the state of health emergency throughout the Kingdom, until next July 10, in order to provide the public authorities with the necessary means for the management of the crisis and the implementation of the plan to ease lockdown, while taking into consideration the epidemiological situation in each province and prefecture, gradually, from June 11.

These decisions also concern the regrouping of active cases of Covid-19 as well as future positive cases in two dedicated hospital structures to accelerate from June 20 the process of the gradual lifting of lockdown measures, he said, noting that these measures are intended to reconcile safeguarding the health of citizens with economic necessities and preparing for a return to normal life, he pointed out.

Laftit also stressed that the strategy adopted has been set up since the start of the pandemic and during all its phases in consultation and coordination between all the components of the government.

Concerning the decision to regroup active cases and future positive cases in two specialized hospital facilities in Benslimane and Benguerir, he underlined that this action reflects the need to open the way for the other hospitals of the Kingdom to treat any kind of illness, to protect positive cases and their family members as well as to reduce the duration of the treatment, while offering them the necessary protection and all the conditions of accommodation and medical follow-up, noting that this decision could favor the acceleration of the implementation of the lockdown easing plan.

The success of the decision to ease lockdown required favorable conditions based on four principles, namely the adoption of the lockdown easing plan as a basic principle with general measures which concern the entire national territory and others at the local level dedicated to each zone.

The second principle concerns the gradual implementation of measures according to the evolution of the epidemiological situation, while the third aims to give importance to the local dimension, taking into account the differences noted between the different regions, given that the Kingdom has been divided into two distinct zones, "Zone 1" which includes 59 prefectures and provinces and "Zone 2" made up of 16 provinces and prefectures, he added.

The fourth principle is related to flexibility and the possibility of revision according to epidemiological probabilities, in the sense that a province or a prefecture can be reclassified according to the number of confirmed cases, he said.

The gradual transition from one phase to another will involve an assessment of the measures to be taken and the conditions to be met at the level of each province or prefecture, through monitoring and follow-up committees, chaired by the walis and governors and composed of representatives of the Ministry of Health and the external services of the concerned ministerial departments and the security services, he said, adding that the prefectures and provinces will be reclassified each week on the basis of criteria determined by the health authorities.

To ensure the success of this operation, it was necessary for the government to entrust the walis and governors with the prerogative to take the measures to ease restrictions, under the decree of extension of the state of health emergency, he said.