The Moroccan government has decided to give incoming travelers the option to either present negative COVID-19 tests or vaccination passes, according to informed Hespress EN sources.
In an initial decision, the Government said it would no longer require inbound travelers to present PCR tests, but maintained the necessity of a valid vaccination pass, proving the travelers were administered three doses.
However, sources confirmed to Hespress EN that the government will announce soon, that travellers will have the choice to either present a valid vaccination pass or a negative PCR test result dating less than 48 hours prior to arrival.
This comes after many Moroccans expressed their confusion over the government’s choice to eliminate the necessity of a COVID-19 test while maintaining the vaccine pass requirement.
Dr Afif, a medical practitioner and member of the Kingdom’s scientific committee advising the government on pandemic and health-related policy, assured Hespress EN that this was the best-fit measure for the country.
In an interview, Dr Afif explained that “the government and health authorities’ main concern is not a high infection rate, but rather a high vaccination rate,” as authorities would like to avoid overcrowding resuscitation units in the country, which are already limited.
In addition, the practitioner and health advisor said that “the Moroccan government is pleased with the low infections and hospitalization rates in the country despite resuming most group gatherings, such as Ramadan tarawih prayers in mosques, football stadiums, concerts and festivals, and in-person classes for all schools and universities.”
The government’s boosted tourism campaign, says Dr Afif, is yet another reason behind such decisions, “as PCR tests can be expensive for large families, while vaccination passes can discourage unvaccinated but COVID-19 free tourists from visiting the country.”
“The psychological impact of the pandemic is far greater than we imagine,” said the doctor, urging citizens to “get vaccinated and try and love life normally, as the infection will likely not result in significant discomfort or long complications if people are immunized.”
Many health officials are accrediting vaccination for Morocco’s current stable health situation and slow, progressive return to a normal life, while the government continues to offer vaccine doses and ensure a steady supply and an eventual “made in Morocco” vial sufficiency.
Morocco had first resumed its international flights last February 7 after a two-month border closure to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant but made it compulsory to present a negative PCR test 48 hours before boarding as well as a vaccination certificate.
As for sea travelers, they had always been given the choice of one or the other. On April 12, it resumed its maritime connections but did not make it compulsory to present a negative PCR test, but only a vaccination certificate.
In the absence of this vaccination certificate, both by air and by sea, passengers will have to present a negative PCR test to enter the country.
The elimination of the compulsory PCR was one of the demands of the Moroccan tourist sector, which is beginning to see an increase in demand after the end of the Omicron wave, but took this requirement as an obstacle.
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