What is it about?

We have shown that the spatial diffusion of COVID-19 in Morocco, either through affected cases or through the displacement of people working in industrial units, is not significant, which indicates the appropriateness of the lockdown implemented. We have also shown that age, socioeconomic and housing conditions are not significant determinants in the spread of the pandemic. Only the proportion of the labour force employed in industry has a positive impact on the number of active COVID-19 cases in the provinces. This brings us back to suggest maintaining a policy of targeted lockdown around provinces with industrial specialization in order to stem the interprovincial spread of the pandemic and to counteract the adverse effects of a generalized lockdown.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

We show that the preponderance of industrial activity in a province has a significant effect on the number of active COVID-19 cases in that province. On the other hand, we have shown that the spatial diffusion of this effect is not significant, which indicates the appropriateness of the lockdown implemented. We have also shown that age, socioeconomic deficits and habitat conditions are not significant determinants in the onset and spread of the pandemic.

Perspectives

In the absence of communal data for all provinces, this analysis focused on the spread of the epidemic by hierarchical mode between large cities and by "jumping" mode along transport routes. The publication of finer data at the territorial level will therefore make it possible to cover the local mode of diffusion through districts that seem to have contributed to the emergence of family outbreaks despite the strict containment conditions imposed.

Ilyes Boumahdi
National Institut of Statistic and Applied Economy (INSEA)

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Is there a relationship between Industrial Clusters and the prevalence of COVID‐19 in the provinces of Morocco?, Regional Science Policy & Practice, February 2021, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/rsp3.12407.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page