COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread

[Chris Scott]

People have already been busted for printing fake permits, making fake disinfectant and even spreading fake news / COVID denialism!

[Tim Cullis]

That's it—the whole country is in lockdown. All intercity transport including private vehicles suspended with effect midnight Sat 21 March: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/202...aturday-night/

What foreigners need to know (including visa renewals): https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/202...cy-in-morocco/

[tony johnston]

Here in Zagora we can walk out to the town to shop etc but not to drive cars out.The town is very quiet with the usual weekly souk much scaled down but the shops that are open are well stocked.Tere are about 25 Europeans left onour site but I hear there are many times that number on the two larger sites in the town.No problems of any kind except lack of access and I had just reccied a piste running through the Draa gorge between Tamgoute and Ouelid Driss that will now have to wait

[TheWarden]

We were told today that we don't need a pass in Imsouane village but if we want to got Tamanar or Agadir we need one. Apparently they police will do our tomorrow.

4 vehicles left here this morning and haven't returned so I guess they got to where they are going.

Bit cooler here than I like compared to Zagora a few days ago but being a site with other Brits is great compared to the nightmare of being with a load of French campervan so campervans.

[RayCaldwell]

Thanks for the feedback everyone and the links Tim. We went to the supermarket today and had to go through two checkpoints in Ouarzazate, both asked questions but both fairly relaxed. We even managed a wee detour on the way back to visit Ait Ben Haddou and had the place to ourselves, without any bother.
Two campers left this morning for Ouzoud - apparently they phoned the campsite there and got the ok to turn up.
We did receive an email from Brittany ferries though telling us our return ferry trip via Santander has been cancelled and refunded so now guessing that if we did get back to Spain, we'd have to head for Calais.
The way we feel at present, the campsite is pretty good, the supermarket has , we may just stay a while and see what happens.

[TheWarden]

We had a few leave Imsouane this morning for pastures new. Official news here is we don't need a permit to leave the site and go into Imsouane, shops are basic but fully stocked. We need a permit to go further but they have only been issued to local so far. Apparently they will do our tomorrow.

The current State of Emergency is due to end at 18:00 on tbe 20th April, 3 days before Ramadan starts. Although as we've seen this could change.

[levelo]

I'm not in Morocco but just got a message from a ( French ) friend of mine who's cycling his way north to Tangiers. He is near Meknes and was so far allowed by the Gendarmerie to proceed north. He is aiming for Tangiers.
So it looks like the rules are implemented differently depending on where you are.

[RayCaldwell]

British Embassy has issued email address to contact them:


British Embassy Morocco
59 mins ·
If you are still in #Morocco , please email us with details of who you are, where you are, how many in your group & telephone no.: morocco.consularsupport@fco.gov.uk


https://www.facebook.com/pg/ukinmoro...=page_internal

[TheWarden]

Saw that Ray, and emailed about our group on the coast. I also emailed them last week and got caught in the Infinite loop of auto emails.

At least they have contact to help assess how many are here. The French authorities say there are 5000 French campervans still in Morocco. Still a lot of europeans here.

Update - I've had a response from the consulate requested details for all our group. Not an auto response this time.

[Tim Cullis]

The Spanish government now states that only Spanish citizens, Spanish residents, EU citizens (does that include UK, I don't know) are allowed access into Spain, and in the meantime has stopped the ferry link from Ceuta.

Consequently, as of yesterday night there was a queue of motorhomes, said to be 5km long, on the side of the road in Fnediq leading to Bab Sebta, the Moroccan border with Spanish Ceuta. One owner estimates there are 500 vehicles with 1,000 people waiting in line.

In the meantime, thanks to diplomatic efforts, the Wali of Tanger has agreed to open the parking area at Tanger Med as a stand for motorhomers. The British Embassy says there is water, showers, toilets and electricity there. A tweet from the Swiss Ambassador states that additional camper van parking sites are being set up at Tanger Ville Port and Oued Laou (north east of Chefchaouen). Flights out of Morocco are still being organised on a sporadic basis, one left today from Casablanca to Zürich.

It's been reported that the Moroccan army are patrolling the desert and sending any off roaders who are self isolating into campsites.

[levelo]

Thanks for the update Tim.
A friend of mine ( French national ) is stuck near Er Rachidia. Camping out by himself, everything is fine so far, but he is only allowed to go buy supplies in the nearest market. The Police won't even let him drive further to a proper supermarket.
He is wondering what to do next.
Is there a " reliable " way of knowing when the ferries run ? Or when they will start running again ?
Cheers.

[TheWarden]

Ceuta border is currently closed to everyone but ferries are still running goods into Ceuta from Spain. The camper van armada has been offered an old army barracks to camp in along with Tanger Med car park.

Not heard anything about the army rounding people up from tbe desert and I know a few still out there. It likely that when they have to resupply they will not be allowed to roam around again.

A big Unicat 6x6 arrived with us last night having driven from Erfoud 700km away. They were waved through most checkpoints it seems without trouble or a travel permit

PS there is a proper supermarket in Er Rachidia, on the main road north to the Ziz Gorge

[levelo]

Thanks mate.
My friend hasn't been hassled by Police. They know where he camps and are quite friendly They haven't ordered him to move on. He'd rather stay where he is than get stuck in Tangiers though.
He'll only make a move If ferries start running again.

[TheWarden]

The campervan colony in the north will be miserable, and even worse with the heavy rain and flash flooding that hit the region over the last few days.

If he gets bored and can get to Boudnib then I think theres no charge at the moment to stay at the campsite. They've had to close the restaurant and the owner is stuck in France but its not a bad place to stay.

[RayCaldwell]

Levelo, we are in a French owned campsite just outside Ouarzazate (Ait Ben Haddou side). The owner is being very helpful and kind and I'm sure wouldn't take much persuasion to allow your friend in. The campsite is called L'Escale De Ouarzazate. There is an oued adjacent to the site which we have been walking up and down the last few days without any bother and the site has a (cold) pool which as the only Scot here, I am using. Things do seem to be tightening up though - we did our second trip to the Carrefour in Ouarzazate today but would not have gotten there without paperwork from the campsite owner. Following confirmation of the Ceuta situation, we intend to stay put.