translated from Spanish: Argentina begins gradual reduction of restrictions resulting from the pandemic

Argentina began on Saturday a process of gradual withdrawal of the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, announced by President Alberto Fernández on Friday, in which the country surpassed the barrier of five million infections. This package of measures implies that the country abandons the epidemiological traffic light model and contemplates the epidemiological alarm for localities or neighborhoods with more than 300,000 inhabitants that meet a series of conditions, such as a bed occupancy rate in intensive care units of more than 80 percent. Thus, Fernández pointed to a “sustained and progressive opening” to recover “responsibly and with care” normal activities, before adding that from this same Saturday the number of people who can meet will be expanded, according to the Argentine state news agency, Telam.The decree contemplates that social and cultural events, recreational and religious will be allowed in enclosed space and cinemas, theaters, gyms and cultural centers will be able to reopen with a capacity of 70 percent. Likewise, meetings are authorized in private homes of up to ten people if they are indoor spaces and 20 without are open spaces, while the green light is given to excursions and tourist activities in open spaces, while meetings in these areas may have up to one hundred participants. In contrast, events of more than a thousand people remain banned, something that will also happen with travel by groups such as students and retirees, while borders will remain closed at least until October 1. Argentina’s Health Ministry said friday in its latest assessment that during the previous 24 hours 13,549 cases and 190 deaths had been reported, bringing the totals to 5,002,951 and 107,213, respectively. He also stressed that 3,657 people are currently admitted to intensive care units, while adding that 25,950,647 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, 8,183,511 of which already have the full schedule.

Original source in Spanish