Speaking at the third meeting of the inter-ministerial commission responsible for monitoring and implementing the government program, El Otmani stressed that, unfortunately, the epidemiological situation has undergone a worrying development in the past week, especially after the curve of virus contaminations began to rise more rapidly than in the first months of the epidemic, with the increase in the number of serious cases and deaths, adding that it was in this context that it was decided to ban mouvement to and from eight cities in the Kingdom.

He also explained that this decision was a difficult one, since it had to take into consideration both the preservation of the health of the inhabitants of the eight cities, but also of the population in the other regions of the Kingdom, and also the social and human conditions of a number of citizens, in addition to certain economic constraints.

The decision was as harsh because it affected large sections of the population because it took place immediately after a series of relief measures, which led some citizens to complain, he said.

The decision, which was discussed over several days, was crucial to avoid serious consequences, he said, explaining that the risk of the virus spreading was high for families, villages and towns across the country, especially since about 2.5 million citizens would be on the move during this period.

The head of government also stressed that thanks to the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the collaboration of all institutions, sectors and citizens, it had been possible to make gains in the war against the virus (Covid-19), and to manage the situation with as few losses as possible, recalling in this context that hundreds of measures and dozens of decisions had been taken, some of which were hard and difficult but necessary to limit the spread of the pandemic.