Argentina records highest daily death toll yet from Covid-19

Officials in Argentina said the country had recorded his highest daily death toll from the virus on Monday, after registering 48 deaths in 24 hours.

The Health Ministry also confirmed that 2,335 new cases of the novel coronavirus had been registered over the same period.

To date, 62,268 people have been infected with the virus in Argentina, with the total number of fatalities reaching 1,280.

Health officials say that of the new confirmed cases, 1,064 (1.7 percent) are imported, 22,481 (36.1 percent) are close contacts of confirmed cases, 27,136 (43.6 percent) are cases of community circulation, with the rest It is under epidemiological investigation.

Buenos Aires Province has the highest concentration of infections, with 30,265 total cases and 1,279 in the last 24 hours, followed by Buenos Aires City with 26,359 cases and 944 new ones on Monday, followed by Chaco Province with 1,961 positives and 31 new cases. Argentina's other provinces all have less than 900 confirmed cases.

President Alberto Fernández announced on Friday a toughening of lockdown measures in Buenos Aires and its surrounding area with cases on the rise. Those living in the capital and Greater Buenos Aires have already experienced one of the longest lockdowns in the world, lasting more than 100 days.

Beginning July 1, the government will introduce a stricter lockdown in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area (AMBA), with stricter controls on the movement of people and traffic circulation. Citizens will only be allowed to leave their homes for food shopping and medical reasons, with only essential workers will be allowed to go to their workplaces.

Chaco Governor Jorge Capitanich signed a decree on Sunday establishing a tighter phase of quarantine in the province's hardest-hit regions until July 24. Restrictions may be loosened, depending on the epidemiological situation.

President Fernández cancelled a scheduled trip to the province on Tuesday, after being recommended to do so by the presidential medical unit.

– TIMES/PERFIL