Omicron: Morocco entails door to its citizens blocked abroad

A PCR test of less than forty-eight hours is required as well as a one-week quarantine in the government.

Le Monde with AFP

The Moroccan government decided on Monday, December 13, to authorize exceptionally Moroccans abroad due to the closure of the borders caused by the Omicron variant to return to their country.

“In order to allow the return to Morocco of Moroccan citizens who actually reside in the Kingdom and who have been blocked as a result of the suspension of the flights, the Moroccan authorities will allow, exceptionally, the flights of passengers (…) From Portugal, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, “says a communiqué of the Interdepartmental Committee for Anti-Covid Watch.

“This operation, which will begin this Wednesday, December 15, concerns, exclusively, the Moroccan citizens who actually reside in Morocco and who recently left the national territory”, adds the press release.

However, each passenger will have to present before boarding a negative PCR test of less than forty-eight hours.

In addition, passengers will be confined for seven days in dedicated hotels, at the expense of the Moroccan government and PCR tests will be made every forty-eight hours during the isolation period. Finally, anyone tested positive at the airport or the hotel will be taken care of by the competent health authorities.

“Preserve the achievements”

Thousands of Moroccans are currently blocked abroad as a result of the authorities’ decision to extend until 31 December the suspension of passenger flights to and from Morocco – effective November 31 – because of of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the SARS-COV-2 and the recrudescence of the pandemic in Europe.

Nevertheless, on a case-by-case basis, special repatriation flights from Morocco, including Europe.

Moroccan sites, citing “a well-informed source at the Ministry of the Interior”, said Monday that no restriction is imposed on Moroccans eager to leave the territory and that they can use these special flights.

Travel restrictions have been put in place “to maintain the achievements of Morocco in the fight against the pandemic”, according to the authorities.

The epidemiological situation has stabilized, with low transmission of the virus for more than five weeks, according to the Ministry of Health.

However, tourism professionals are the devastating impact of the closing of the borders on this vital sector for the Kingdom’s economy, already undermined by an unprecedented crisis for almost two years.

/Media reports.