Responding to a catastrophic increase in COVID cases, exacerbated by the transmission of the South Africa and Manaus (Brazil) variants and the onset of winter, Argentine President Alberto Fernández gave a nationally-televised speech last night announcing a new set of strict measures to go into effect on May 22 and extending through May 30. Warning that the country is living through “the worst moment since the pandemic began,” Fernández reported that all non-essential activities in the country would be shut down in those regions currently classified as in “epidemiological alert.” This includes the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, including the capital city and surrounding areas. The weekend of June 4-5 will also see a lockdown.
Cases have been surging for some weeks, culminating in a record high of just under 40,000 cases and 494 deaths on May 18. The hospital system is under enormous strain, with an ICU occupancy of over 90%, and shortages of PPE, respirators and medicines. In some ICUs, the mortality rate is 75%, one doctor told the British daily Guardian. The daily La Nación today reported a positivity rate of 37.11%. According to the Guardian, the May 18 numbers place Argentina third in daily cases after India and Brazil, and fourth in COVID deaths, after India, Brazil and the U.S. Relative to its population, Argentina now has the highest number of COVID deaths per day in the world, with 16.46 fatalities per million, far exceeding Brazil with 11.82 per million.
