Morocco will stop people entering and leaving some of its biggest cities from today to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases, the interior and health Ministries announced.
The cities to be locked down include the economic powerhouse of Casablanca as well as Tangier, Marrakech, Fez and Meknes.
The country eased a nationwide lockdown a month ago, though international flights are still suspended except special flights by national airlines carrying Moroccans or foreign residents.
On Sunday, the health ministry said 633 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, one of the biggest daily rises so far, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 20,278, with 313 deaths and 16,438 recoveries.
Morocco has carried out 1.1 million tests and has made mask-wearing mandatory. It has extended an emergency decree, until August 10, giving authorities leeway in restoring restrictive measures on a region-by-region basis depending on developments in the epidemic.
The government expects Morocco to record a budget deficit of 7.5% of gross domestic product this year, and the economy to shrink by 5%.
27th March 2026
Lebanon’s Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé has described Israel’s military campaign in southern Lebanon as an “invasion”, saying entire villages have been destroyed and more than one mill...
27th March 2026
Malta Employers President Ivan Refalo has called for responsible policymaking and a stronger focus on competitiveness amid rising global uncertainty and labour market pressures. Referrin...
27th March 2026
Updated 1030
40% of Core Skills Set to Shift by 2030, Experts Urge Urgent Workforce Adaptation: Around 40% of workers’ core skills are expected to change by 2030, according to discuss...
26th March 2026
Update 1045
Parliament Extends Auditor General Terms Amid Row Over Successor Delay: Parliament unanimously approved a constitutional amendment allowing Auditor General Charles Deguara...
26th March 2026
The European Parliament has called for stronger relations between the European Union and Canada, emphasising cooperation in security, trade, and multilateral coordination. In a resolutio...
11th March 2026
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament today that in just ten days of conflict in the Middle East, fossil fuel imports have cost the EU an additi...
27th March 2026
Malta Employers President Ivan Refalo has called for responsible policymaking and a stronger focus on competitiveness amid rising global uncertainty and labour market pressures. Referrin...
27th March 2026
Traders are increasingly betting that Brent crude could surge to $150 a barrel by the end of April as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to restrict oil flows through the ...
2nd February 2026
Vivian continues to widen its portfolio with the announcement of new representation agreements with worldwide R&D pharmaceutical companies. “These latest agreements crown a very succ...
19th December 2025
Two local analysts have cautioned that any attempt by EU Member States to block or restrict the passporting of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) authorised under the Markets in...
27th March 2026
Malta Employers President Ivan Refalo has called for responsible policymaking and a stronger focus on competitiveness amid rising global uncertainty and labour market pressures. Referrin...
20th March 2026
Malta Public Transport will be operating a series of extra trips and direct bus services towa-rds and back from Ta’ Qali on Thursday 26th March 2026 for the highly anticipated Nations Le...
26th March 2026
Iran has dismissed U.S. assertions that it is urgently seeking a deal to end nearly four weeks of conflict, insisting that no formal negotiations are taking place. Foreign Minister Abbas...
25th March 2026
Iran has reportedly received a 15-point U.S. proposal aimed at securing a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, according to two Pakistani officials.
The plan is said to include sanction...
25th February 2026
Thousands of Cuban security personnel have begun leaving Caracas after nearly two decades in Venezuela, as Washington ramps up efforts to dismantle the long standing alliance between the...
9th February 2026
María Corina Machado is a prominent figure in Venezuela’s opposition. She has reported that one of her closest associates, Juan Pablo Guanipa, was abducted. This occurred mere hours afte...
25th March 2026
Russia has carried out its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the war, launching a record 948 drones over a 24-hour period, according to Ukrainian officials.
More th...
20th March 2026
Ukraine has deployed military units to protect critical and civilian infrastructure against drones in five Middle Eastern countries, Ukraine's security council secretary Rustem Umerov ...