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Fez-Covid-19: This is why cases are skyrocketing

For the past week, Fez has dominated the cities that have recorded the highest number of new Covid-19 contaminations. Result: the counter of active cases jumped to 1,374 infected (as of August 3, 2020), instead of 200 a few weeks ago.
Supported by Public Health, these patients are under treatment at the Hassan II University Hospital, Ibn Al Khatib Hospital, in addition to the Saïss university campus. All over these centers, doctors are worried and keep calling for vigilance and caution against a virus that kills. “The epidemiological situation in the city of Fez is alarming”, warns Dr Mohamed Mounir Mikou, anesthetist, member of the Moroccan Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Resuscitation (SMAAR). According to him, more than sixty health professionals are among the contaminated identified during the last 48 hours. The contamination of these doctors and nurses is due to three main factors. First, a decrease in the vigilance of secondary staff due to chronic stress in view of the workload. Second, the pressure of the economic situation at the end of the confinement period and the understandable official discourse or that of certain media which conveyed a false impression of security. “This has resulted in a desire to regain freedom of action, even among nursing staff, which is sometimes accompanied by a decrease in vigilance in terms of compliance with barrier measures,” explains Dr Mikou. And to continue: “Believing that the epidemic wave had passed, the government refocused the action plan of hospitals on chronic pathologies (cancer, diabetes, heart disease …) which were in the process of decompensating leading to a lack of good evaluation of Covid patients ”. Added to this is the absence of coronavirus circuits in the emergency rooms of the CHU and in certain hospitals. This caused a mixing of Covid and non-Covid patients “causing contamination of staff who were not ready to receive them while respecting the barrier measures”. Note that for fear of being evacuated to Benslimane or Benguerir, several suspected cases refuse to be tested.
In the opinion of the Regional Directorate of Health, the epidemiological situation in the city of Fez is worrying. Above all, with a number of new daily cases which has reached more than 200 and a daily mortality which also affects patients under 30 years old. “Knowing that Covid deaths are not all counted … because there are those who arrive in hospital dying or dead and in whom the PCR sample is not always carried out to confirm the cause of death”, laments the member of SMAAR. For the latter, “the responsibility is shared between the citizens who do not respect the barrier measures and the government which opts for a speech of control of the situation … whereas there is a blatant carelessness”. As evidenced by the images shared on social networks on the eve of Eid, in the souks, stations, roads… and which exactly reflect the state of consciousness of citizens and the risk our country is running. “The citizen is faced with an enemy that he does not see and that he does not feel since the information that is being conveyed around this infection does not affect the family circle or close friends, which leads to a drop in guard against this deadly enemy, ”regrets Dr Mikou.
For this anesthetist, the virus is currently in free circulation. A low mortality of 1.5% from Covid-19 infection is not reassuring. “Because, by increasing the number of infected cases, that of people hospitalized in serious condition will grow and that of deaths will be more and more important”, he said finally fearing “an increase in the number of deaths in absolute numbers”. “To avoid such a situation, it is essential to close ranks, and to impose the respect of barrier measures and why not a partial reconfinement if necessary”, he concludes.

Awareness remains essential

While waiting for a vaccine, doctors agree on the importance of barrier measures that have proven their effectiveness against Covid-19 infection. In addition to health measures, awareness and government communication must be increased. “The latter should change by insisting on the non-verbal message conveyed by the head of government himself who does not respect the wearing of a mask”, one underlines. Reports with media campaigns about sanctions and arrests of people who break the law should be carried out even when it affects senior officials. The creation of atypical and surprising awareness-raising short films with very touching messages conveyed would make citizens aware of the gravity of the situation.

Youness SAAD ALAMI

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