Morocco began a gradual return to normal life after the government decided to remove some of the coronavirus restrictions that it had imposed to fight the pandemic.
Markets, shops and restaurants are now allowed to open until 11pm.
“The decision to extend the opening hours from 8pm till 11pm helped us welcome more clients,” said the owner of a cafe in Rabat.
He said restaurants had suffered painful losses after a curfew was imposed to fight the pandemic.
The government also eased restrictions on public transportation by setting the capacity at 75 percent.
For the first time since more than a year, theaters, cinemas, cultural centers, libraries, museums and monuments were open with up to 50 percent of their capacity.
Event halls now operate at 50 percent capacity provided that the number of people does not exceed 100.
With the rise in temperatures, people were seen accessing beaches while respecting physical distancing after the government allowed to open public swimming pools by a 50 percent capacity.
Despite easing the restrictions, the Moroccan authorities urged all citizens to continue to fully comply with all preventive measures, in particular physical distancing, hygiene rules and mask-wearing.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs announced a plan for the gradual reopening of mosques, in coordination with the health and administrative authorities.
It said the first stage starts on June 8, when Morocco will open around 12,000 mosques while an additional 9,000 mosques will open during the second stage on June 22.
The Ministry said 19,000 mosques should open next month, also on two stages.
However, the government kept summer camps closed, a decision, which prompted workers in the sector to protest outside the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Rabat.
