No fewer than 4300 people were arrested last weekend in Morocco for breaching emergency rules issued to combat the novel Coronavirus.
Recall that Moroccan authorities had announced a public health state of emergency on March 19, confining everyone to their homes except those with a permit to be out for work.
Over 28,701 people have been arrested in the country since mid-March inspite of the lockdown order.
According to the country’s national security force (DGSN), 15,545 have been referred to court after being held in custody.
DGSN said the largest number of arrests were made in the country’s economic centre of Casablanca and the capital Rabat. Penalties for violating measures in place to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease include up to three months in jail and fines of up to 1,300 dirhams ($130), or both.
AFP reported that last week, authorities made wearing face masks in public obligatory. Morocco has recorded 1,746 Covid-19 cases, with 120 deaths and 196 recoveries. Fewer than 7,000 tests have been carried out.
