Cases are on the rise in Argentina, and epidemics have been reported in the country

Since January 13, Argentina has been the country with the latest cases of Covit-19, especially the Omigran variant, in a population of 45 million in Latin America.

From January 8 to 15, 2,481 cases per million people in Argentina were accumulated, according to Ever World’s data portal. The United States, the world’s leading country, is lagging behind with 2,466 infections per million people. Argentina is the Latin American country with the highest number of infections per million, even in cases that have accumulated since the outbreak (7.094 million).

Since last week, more than 100,000 cases have been reported every day in the country. It has only dropped in the last few hours (65,241 infections and 51 deaths) as the number of registrations has halved over the weekend.

Argentina is also among the least tested countries (200,000 daily exams). This explains why Argentina’s positive rate is the highest in the world at the moment: an average of 63% every day. Six times the maximum 10% recommended by the OMAS (World Health Organization). According to experts, the actual daily infection rate in Argentina should be about 500,000 patients a day.

“We test a little and vaccinate in small quantities, especially the third dose, which is essential to protect ourselves from the micron. We use 200,000 doses daily, to be vaccinated twice. Says Roberto Debaugh.

Contradictory behavior

Anyone who reads the description of this scene can imagine that people were very careful and that they canceled holiday trips and took further preventive measures, but the reality is completely different. Since the onset of the epidemic this massive tidal wave has accompanied the record flow of tourists to summer cities, especially the Atlantic coast, with congested beaches. Argentina’s tourist cities are experiencing a surge of occupation not seen for years.

“The effect of this crowd on the beaches is the rapid circulation of the virus. Many people think that ômicron does not pose a serious health risk and acts as a risk-free,” observes Ricardo DiGiro of the Argentine Association of Infectious Diseases. .

Until this weekend, Argentina experienced an intense heat wave, the second highest in history. In Buenos Aires, the thermometer measured 41.5 ° C, with a temperature of 46.9 ° C, surpassing only one level in 1957 with a sensitivity of 43.3 ° C and 61 C.

High temperatures took many people to squares and parks where preventive maintenance was not respected. It was as if the people had dictated the outcome of the epidemic.

Although cases of the Omigran variant do not have the same mortality rate as previous variants, the number of deaths in Argentina has increased at a slower pace. Last Wednesday (12), 139 deaths, more than double the previous day. To find such a high number, you have to go to September 17th Delta variant Of these, 185 died.

No restrictions

This social behavior may lead the government to take steps to control the movement of people, but the reaction has been different. The order was issued to avoid restrictions that would not affect the economy. This is contrary to the position adopted in 2020, when Argentina lasted 233 days through the longest and most severe isolation in the world.

“There is no room for new restrictions,” says Roberto Debaugh. “If they try to use control measures, they run the risk of creating manifestations of rejection, which can lead to greater coordination and more incidence,” says epidemiologist Louise Camera. In Argentina 74% are fully vaccinated (85% single dose), while only 20% have a third dose, although the government has relaxed the isolation protocol for close contact with victims.

“Instead of focusing on the occupation of ICU beds, our concern is not to work,” Health Minister Carla Vizotti said last week, when she announced flexibility in the isolation protocol. Anyone who is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic in all three doses should not be isolated. Prior to this, he was isolated for five days.

Only those without a dose should continue to isolate for 10 days. This flexibility aims to alleviate the problem of staff shortages due to epidemics in essential services such as health, fire and police, but also in the private sector. It is based on the occupation of 42.4% of intensive care beds, this number is considered low, but it is growing: two weeks ago the rate was 37%.

The siege of the unvaccinated

On the one hand, Omigran is more serious for those who have not been vaccinated, and on the other hand, vaccines remain in Argentina. About 20 million doses were distributed but not delivered. Therefore, it has been ordered to tighten the non-vaccinated siege.

The vaccine passport, accepted by many provinces, is a form of stress. This is not yet accepted in the capital, Buenos Aires, but anyone who wants to go around the city to an event, a theater, a public office, or a restaurant needs a vaccination certificate.

Pharmacies in another province of Crdoba began vaccinating. In the province of Buenos Aires, there are supermarkets, squares, shopping centers and beaches.

In several provinces in the north and northeast of the country, they went door-to-door searching for suspects or those who could not easily access the vaccine. At Catamarca, anyone who has not been vaccinated, but is infected and seeks a general hospital, will have to pay for the service.