Argentina increases entry quota for state citizens and residents – 07/10/2021

Buenos Aires, July 9 (EFE). – Argentina announced on Friday that, starting from the end of this week, the number of people authorized to enter its territory will increase weekly until August 6, which represents a slight increase from 600 per day permits, in effect since the end of June, to prevent the arrival of the delta variant of the novel coronavirus.

According to an administrative decision published today in the Official Gazette, 5,200 people will be able to enter Argentina by air during the week of July 10-16; This number will rise to 6,300 between 17 and 23 of the same month and to 7,000 per week from July 24 to 30 and from July 31 to August 6.

These numbers increase the maximum entry quota to 600 people per day that has been in place for about two weeks.

Avoid a variable delta in the middle of the second wave.

In the midst of the second wave of Covid-19, Argentina began implementing this daily quota for entry to travelers from June 28 to July 9, causing inconvenience to airlines – who had to reschedule flights – and Argentines and residents. The country that is abroad and wants to return.

On July 1, in an interview with Agência Efe, the Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti, defended this decision due to the risk of introducing the delta variant and announced that, for two months, it would continue to restrict people’s entry, while the vaccination process continued.

Before June 28 – with several restrictions already in place – access was allowed to 2,000 people per day, all of whom had to undergo PCR testing before boarding and antigen testing on arrival. Anyone who tested positive would have to undergo isolation in a hotel, but those who tested positive were also forced to stay for several days at home.

The minister expressed his regret, saying: “Four out of ten did not comply,” explaining the reason for tightening the procedures.

Tourism borders remain closed.

The decision known today indicates that the borders will remain closed to tourism, that is, to non-Argentines or residents, and flights from Brazil, the United Kingdom, Chile, India and African countries.

Likewise, those returning from abroad are required to self-isolate in places designated by the regional governments and the city of Buenos Aires for a period of 10 days, starting with the test carried out in the country of origin. Those who prefer to stay in secluded hotels will have to bear the expenses.

In addition, there will be control over who has returned from a trip and intends to achieve isolation at home – in case of non-compliance, a criminal complaint will be filed.

Travelers must undergo a PCR test to be able to board the plane to Argentina, another upon arrival in the country and a third on the seventh day after entry.

Parallel to the decision on flights, the country’s president, Alberto Fernandez, extended the decree of necessity and urgency that includes health and preventive measures aimed at mitigating the transmission of the virus.

LESS CONTAGIA.

Argentina reported 14,518 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total number of infections to 4,627,537. The number of deaths rose to 98,148 with 244 deaths reported in the past 24 hours.

There was a decrease compared to the number of cases recorded yesterday, which amounted to 19,256.

As for vaccination, 19.1 million people – out of a population of 45 million – have received the first dose of the vaccine, and 4.8 million have already received the full dose.