The number of people declared cured rose, until Saturday at 4:00 p.m., to 1,256 with 173 new recoveries, said director of epidemiology and disease control at the Ministry of Health Mohamed El Youbi, in a statement broadcast by MAP on its television channel M24 and on RIM RADIO.

The number of fatalities increased to 173 after the announcement of two cases of death in the past 24 hours, added the official, saying that 2,201 suspected cases have been dismissed during the last 24 hours after negative tests.

The majority of new cases have been recorded, respectively, in the regions of Marrakech-Safi, Casablanca-Settat, Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, Fez-Meknès, Guelmim-Oued Noun and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, he noted.

The distribution of the total number of confirmed cases remains unchanged, with Casablanca-Settat on the top of the most affected regions, followed by Marrakech-Safi, Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima and, almost equally, Fez-Meknès and Draa-Tafilalet, he said.

Of the 160 new cases, 82%, that is 131, were discovered thanks to medical monitoring, explained El Youbi, specifying that this operation, which lasts 14 days, the maximum incubation period of the virus, concerned a total of 25,884 contact persons.

He also underlined the stability of the fatality rate, which stands at 3.7%, against 7% worldwide, adding that the recovery rate is at 26.6%, thus continuing its exponential rise.

A total of 78 cases were admitted in the last 24 hours to intensive care units, he said, noting the drop to around 3% in the number of cases in a serious or critical condition, while mild and asymptomatic cases represent around 92%.

The Ministry of Health invites citizens to respect the rules of hygiene and health security, as well as the preventive measures taken by the Moroccan authorities by showing responsibility and patriotism.