Confronted with daily records of deaths linked to the coronavirus and contaminations, Argentina is reconfigured for nine days. “We are going through the worst moment of the pandemic”, declared Thursday, May 20 the president, Alberto Fernández (center left), noting a “Very serious problem”. From Saturday May 22, social, economic, educational, religious and face-to-face sports activities are put on hold. Only essential shops keep their doors open and the population is allowed to go out near their homes only between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. These restrictions apply to areas classified at risk, the overwhelming majority of the country, including Buenos Aires and its region, where a third of the 45 million Argentines live.
For four consecutive days this week, the country has deplored more than 35,000 new daily infections – some are the result of a statistical correction – including Argentina among the countries in the world with the highest number of new cases, compared to of its population. Another disastrous record reached on May 18: 745 deaths in a single day. In total, the country records 73,391 deaths linked to Covid-19.
According to the latest statement from the Argentine Society of Intensive Care (SATI), dated May 14, 90% of beds were occupied on that date in greater Buenos Aires. “Some hospitals are already saturated. The situation is terrible and the health system is on the verge of collapse ”, reports Elisa Estenssoro, member of SATI and advisor to the government of the province of Buenos Aires. “The ambulances turn for hours before they find a place. Patients sometimes have to wait four days on a ventilator in hospital before having an intensive care bed ”, continues the manager, who reports the abysmal fatigue of nursing staff, called upon to the maximum of their strength.
Political inconsistency and discord
Argentina is not however surprised by the wave, ascending since February. On April 16, a series of restrictive measures – also aimed at sparing the economy – were introduced. “The rules weren’t followed well. There is great weariness and despair which consists in socializing at all costs. The majority of contaminations take place during social gatherings [familiales ou amicales] », Notes Silvia González Ayala, infectious disease specialist at the National University of La Plata.
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