Moroccan King Mohammed VI on Sunday pardoned 5,645 prisoners in preventive measures against coronavirus, the Justice Ministry said in a statement.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media.

The monarch called for "taking all necessary measures to strengthen the protection of inmates and correctional institutions concerned with minor prisoners under 18 years old from the spread of coronavirus."

"Due to the exceptional circumstances associated with the situation of health emergency and the imposed precautions to take, this process will be implemented in a gradual manner," the statement said.

On Saturday, the Moroccan Ministry of Health said that the total number of COVID-19 infections rose to 919, including 59 deaths and 66 recovered cases.