"Morocco has done remarkable job previously on influenza and the MERS," and "we need to build on all this work now," Van Kerkhove said in response to a question at a virtual press conference from Geneva in the presence of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

 In this regard, the WHO expert praised the long and close cooperation between Morocco and the UN specialized agency for health.

Through the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO), "we have been working with the countries of the region for decades to develop diagnostic capabilities that remain valid for covid-19," she added.

In addition, the WHO official recalled, representatives of the Moroccan departments concerned have participated in numerous training sessions in recent years (on rapid response teams, case detection, contact tracing and detailed investigation of cases and outbreaks...).

 "All this work done on influenza and the MERS must be built on", in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, she insisted.

 She recalled that the WHO provides guidance to all countries, including Morocco, on how to manage cases, whether they are people with mild symptoms or severe cases.

 For his part, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program, Michael Ryan, recalled the close cooperation between Morocco and the World Health Organization, particularly in recent months regarding a major meeting planned in Morocco on preparedness for health emergencies and epidemics.