This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez has taken drastic measures to combat the spread of coronavirus in the country's capital, Buenos Aires. The city, home to 14 million of Argentina's 44 million population, has been identified as a major source of infection for the rest of the country.
As of July 1, the government will impose a strict lockdown, requiring residents to stay at home and only leave to purchase essential provisions. Only essential services and some industrial zones will remain operational during this period, which is set to last until July 17.
The decision comes as coronavirus cases continue to rise exponentially in Argentina, with over 52,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths reported so far. President Fernandez has acknowledged that the lockdown will have negative consequences for the economy, which has been suffering from two years of recession and is predicted to shrink by 9.9 percent in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund.
However, the President remains confident that the lockdown will save lives, citing the example of neighboring Brazil, where a prolonged quarantine has resulted in a significantly lower number of deaths. "If Argentina had followed Brazil's rhythm, we'd have 10,000 dead," he said.
