Covid-19: Virus Reproduction Rate Stabilizes at 0.88

The reproduction rate (R0) of the Covid-19 shows a slight and continuous improvement and stabilized at 0.88 last Sunday, said the head of the division of communicable diseases of the Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Ministry of Health Abdelkrim Meziane Belfkih.

Presenting, on Tuesday in Rabat, the bimonthly report on the epidemiological situation, Meziane Belfkih underlined that the weekly epidemiological curve relating to Covid-19 in Morocco experienced a 23.9% decrease until January 17.

This downward trend was observed in the regions of Beni Mellal-Khenifra (-60.6%), Draa-Tafilalet (-45.9%), Guelmim-Oued Noun (-35%), Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (-34.2%), Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (-32, 4%), Marrakech-Safi (-31.4%), Souss-Massa (-24.7%), Casablanca-Settat (-17.3%), Fez-Meknes (-14.1%) and Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra (-2.2%).

The national weekly epidemiological curve increased in the regions of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab (+79.4%) and the Oriental (+5.7%).

As for the death curve, it recorded a decrease of 22.9% over the past two weeks, he said.

Globally, the number of positive cases stands at 95,784,932 as of January 18, i.e. a cumulative incidence rate of 1,228.8/100,000 inhabitants.

The registered death toll stood at 2,044,457, a case fatality rate of 2.1%, he noted, adding that the number of people who recovered reached about 68,354,444, a recovery rate of 71.4%.

The official highlighted the importance of respecting preventive health measures that are likely to limit the spread of the virus, in particular, the wearing of face masks, regular hand washing, social distancing and the use of Wiqaytna application.

The ministry of health announced on Monday that the first case of contamination with the Covid-19 variant which appeared in the UK has been detected at the Tanger-Med port. The first case is a Moroccan national who arrived from Ireland on a ship from Marseilles.