COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread

[Chickadee]

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

Thanks for your info.

Have you not thought of leaving your van and flying back to US until it's all cleared up?
You can do so easily with Customs at the airport for up to six months.
Van can be left anywhere you choose. See sticky thread on this topic.
That's what I did with my bike back in March.

Chris,

Thank you for your response. We have thought about that option multiple times over the last few months, but don't want to leave our van in Morocco when we don't know when we will be able to return to Morocco and continue to travel. Temporary import is also limited to 6 months. We are aware that the whole lockdown has changed the timeline, but exactly how, we don't know. We have already been in Morocco with this vehicle almost 5 months.

With all that has been happening around the world, we feel that "overlanding" will be heavily effected by COVID-19 for the next year or two. It may be best for us to pause our travels and return to the US. Our van is our "home" and we don't want to leave it behind.

Too bad our paths didn't cross while you were in Morocco. We have used your book, "Morocco Overland" when we have been able to move and have found it very useful. We planned on sending you some tracks we did between Icht and Samara with some comments on current information if you are interested in it. Thank you for sharing your information.

-LeeWhay

[Chris Scott]

In that case I think Casablanca port is your best option for shipping to North America.
The advice is choose the busiest port – Casa or Tangier I'd guess.
If it doesn't fit in a container and needs to go on a rack, try and seal off the cabin, lock gear in screwed down trunks, then sprinkle it all with holy water for good measure.
It may be an idea not to leave Mk before your van does.

Glad the book was useful.
New routes and updates always welcome.

[Chickadee]

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

In that case I think Casablanca port is your best option for shipping to North America.
The advice is choose the busiest port – Casa or Tangier I'd guess.
If it doesn't fit in a container and needs to go on a rack, try and seal off the cabin, lock gear in screwed done trunks, then sprinkle it all with holy water for good measure.
It may be an idea not to leave Mk before it does.

Glad the book was useful.
New routes and updates always welcome.

Chris,
Thank you for your assistance. We appreciate your thoughts.
LeeWhay

[TheWarden]

Rumour has it that the Government will discuss the state of Emergency tomorrow.

So we can probably expect an announcement at 17:59 on Friday. Gut feeling is the State of Emergency will be extended again after the increase in cases and the need to lock Safi down last weekend.

What this means for the borders remains to be seen

[Tim Cullis]

My musings posted yesterday on TripAdvisor...

"Whilst the number of detected cases continues to rise, with a recent spike in the Atlantic coast town of Safi, the overall situation remains under control with many of the cases being asymptomatic and only detected through test-and-trace procedures. Total recorded infections are around 14,500 and active cases are about 4,000. Deaths thankfully at a low figure of 237.

Since the state of emergency was declared, Morocco has assisted with the return of tens of thousands of European, American and other tourists to their home countries. The majority of those with vehicles have also been enabled to leave.

More than 45,000 Moroccans living abroad who were stranded in Morocco when the borders closed have been assisted to return to their country of residence, whilst additional repatriation ferries are being organised 13-20 July to allow 1,800 Moroccan families with vehicles to exit to Spain and France.

Initially Morocco asked all citizens who were away from the country to stay in place and more than 30,000 were affected. In the last three weeks 10,700 have arrived home on 74 repatriation flights. At the moment these passengers are being checked for Covid-19 on arrival and if positive the passenger would be removed to hospital. Those testing negative are housed in otherwise empty tourist hotels across the country for nine days and if they remain negative for a second test, they are then allowed home where they are expected to self-isolate for a further five days.

Many thousands more stranded Moroccans are expected to be repatriated and plans are afoot to change the procedure. Those who test negative will be allowed to return home to self-isolate for 14 days. They will have to sign a declaration agreeing to honour the terms of the quarantine, have to download and activate the Wiqaytna tracking application on their smartphones, and also repeat blood tests every day of the quarantine period.

The current state of emergency is due to end 10 July though restrictions may continue after this date even if the state of emergency is not extended.

Morocco has not announced or even given any indication when it will open its borders for foreign tourists by ferry or airplane. Some days of notice will be required by the companies concerned before they can resume flights."

____________

I know many businesses in Morocco are really hurting and desperate to welcome visitors once more, but I still feel this can't happen just yet.

Firstly, I can't see the government, on one hand saying the thousands of Moroccans returning from abroad in the next couple of weeks have to quarantine for 14 days, and then on the other hand allowing tourists in without quarantine.

Secondly, Morocco cancelled Marharba Operation which was pencilled in to start 15 July, and which would have welcomed probably in excess of 1.5 million Moroccans living abroad, returning for their summer holidays. Why would they do this if the borders were likely to be opened?

I would love to be proved wrong on this, but can't see much change before the end of July.

[Tim Cullis]

And then today...

"From midnight 14 July, which I take to mean from 00:01 on Wednesday 15 July, Morocco will reopen its border, allowing foreign residents normally living in Morocco who have been unable until now to return, to enter the country. Moroccan citizens currently out of the country will also be allowed to return.

Ferries will only be allowed from Sète in France and Genoa in Italy. Airlines will be allowed to operate. All passengers will be required to be screened for Covid-19 with 48 hours of boarding ferries or airlines.

Foreign tourists will NOT be allowed to enter the country at this stage."

More information:https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/202...dents-july-14/

___________

There seems to be some reluctance on the Moroccan side to restart ferries with Spain, or to reopen Ceuta and Melilla borders. Not sure what's behind this.

[TheWarden]

News coming out from this mornings meeting that the State of Emergency will be extended until the 10th August.

Not really a surprise given the number of active cases has risen sharply since the easing of lockdown measures since the 12th.

Yesterdays news on the border restrictions easing for Moroccans and residents of Morocco is timed nicely for Eid at the end of the month, giving MRE's time to get to family and quarantine before the festivities, and give certainty that they can leave again afterwards. The relaxation also corresponds to the planned start date for the cancelled Operation Marhaba.

Still a lot of tourists with vehicle waiting for news. I've been helping quite of few Brits still out there the last couple of weeks. 6 vehicles out this week to Algeciras and Sete, and another 10 trying to get ferries next week. The heat wave of the last fortnight has pushed things for many, 47 degrees at Terre D'Ocean overnight reported by friends there.

[Tim Cullis]

Originally Posted by TheWarden

The heat wave of the last fortnight has pushed things for many, 47 degrees at Terre D'Ocean overnight reported by friends there.

It's certainly been unpleasantly hot overnight, but 47ºC would be impossible. After all, that's close to the historic record for Morocco of 48.9ºC which was set in Marrakech in the early afternoon of 17 July 2012.

The highest overnight reading in the past fortnight at Taghazout was 31ºC at 2am on 7 July. Highest daytime temperature was 36ºC.

But nevertheless, sticky. I could handle the daytime temperature but 31ºC at night is pretty hard.

[Chris Scott]

There seems to be some reluctance on the Moroccan side to restart ferries with Spain...

6 vehicles out this week to Algeciras

So ferries are currently running to Algeciras?

[TheWarden]

Chris, the Spanish have been running ferries to Algeciras for a few weeks now but these are repatriation ferries so not straight forward to get onto. You need to complete an online form with Balearia, then inform the embassy and hope you name comes up in the list. It has been getting easier to get on these as a no Spanish resident as time comes on. 2 more ferries this week scheduled.

Of course, no one can get into Morocco unless you hold residency or a citizen

Agadir Al Massira recorded a temp of 49.5 on Monday evening, 0.1 degree of the record of 49.6 at Marrakech.

[Chris Scott]

Ta. I was hoping I might get my bike transported to Algeciras, but from what you say repat ferries sound too complicated or not applicable.

To get it to Sete or Genoa will cost loads.

[TheWarden]

Freight services are still running to Algeciras, so theoretically if you could get it on a truck heading to Spain then it would be possible without the headache of the repat services.

But I'm not sure how you would deal with the TVIP side of things

[Tim Cullis]

As predicted above by The Warden, the state of emergency which was due to end today (10 July) has been extended for another month until 10 August.

@Chris: Tony and Jan's 'experience' on a repatriation ferry to Algeciras (they are Spanish residents)...

Thought we'd share the chaos of the ferry with you as we enjoy our glass of wine looking at our clearing pool! Spain Embassy reported a load of 800 people and 200 cars. At the wharf the resto was closed but there was a great carnival atmosphere. Clearly most people were Moroccans travelling on Spanish plates. However on the ferry there could be no attempt at social distancing. There were horizontal bodies everywhere. Very few masks and a cacophony of noise that would have woken the devil. Against all of this there was the amazing sight of 2 Spanish dolly birds at the shop. One controlling the queue and one taking the money. Surreal. Needless to say the shop was ravaged. On disembarkation the crew were risking their lives trying to control the exit flow. In the end it was a free for all so the Defender ruled supreme. Aviva Balearia

[TheWarden]

interesting article on Bladi this morning regarding border opening.

The Moroccan authorities are reported as saying this week partial opening is a trial run to see how things go before a full opening.

While this is a sensible strategy, they seem to be entirely focussed on internal tourism, often saying the 2020 tourism season is finished.

However, its the international tourism that accounts for 80% of their tourist income. Peak season for international travel is April and October and also good numbers over the Christmas/New Year period. If they sdon't make an announcement soon they risk losing the autumn season as Europeans are looking to book holiday now. Even if they said they will reopen on a certain date subject to the virus being under control and will be reviewed, it'll give the tourism industry some hope that 2020 isn't completely dead.

Other news, Tangier has been locked down again as of 12:00 today

[TheWarden]

Moroccan customs have extended the Temporary Vehicle Import Period due to the Coronavirus restrictions. All TVIP's will be extended until the 31st December 2020

https://fr.le360.ma/economie/la-doua...ulees-a-219421

There is also a lot of unconfirmed rumours circulating the internet and particularly social media about people on Tourist Visas being required to leave by the 10th of August.

At this time the only official statement from the Moroccan Authorities was made on the 17th March stating overstays on visas will not be fined during the State of Emergency. The current State of Emergency is due to finish on the 10th August so this situation stays in place until then.

The UK FCO Travel Advice has confirmed there is no requirement to leave before the 10th of August. This was reconfirmed with the UK Ambassador meeting with Moroccan authorities recently.

At this time there has been no further statement regarding Visas or the State of Emergency from the Moroccan Authorities. I will of course post an update as soon as we hear more