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ARGENTINA | 09-07-2021 01:41

City Hall loosens Covid restrictions on gatherings, outdoor events

Buenos Aires City government authorises meetings of up to 20 people outdoors and says offices can now be at 30% capacity. Starting next month, cultural events will be allowed, with a 1,000-person cap on attendance.

The Buenos Aires City government announced changes in its coronavirus protocols and restrictions for citizens Thursday, crediting the news to a decrease in average daily infections and fatalities.

Health Ministry officials reported 19,256 new cases and 466 deaths in the preceding 24 hours on Thursday, with 954 of those infections registered in the nation's capital. The occupancy rate of beds in intensive care units (ICUs) has dropped to 64.3 percent nationwide and 62.2 percent in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area (AMBA).

Speaking at a press conference in Parque Patricios, City Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta said that the recent decline in cases had continued, with the seven-day average of cases falling from 2,500 to 1,100. He said that ICUs were at 43 percent occupancy rate in the capital.

He also reminded porteños that vaccination was now open to all citizens over the age of 30 for a first dose.

The new measures kicked in on Friday, July 9, though some related to transport will be rolled out progressively.

 

GENERAL MEASURES

– Starting July 9, social gatherings in public open-air spaces will be allowed, up to a maximum of 20 people.

– Meetings of up to 10 people are also enabled in outdoor spaces inside houses and apartments, and in common areas of apartment blocks and buildings.

– In-person professional activities will be able to return, with offices at 30 percent of their maximum occupancy.

– The use of common area in hotels will be allowed, again capped to 30 percent capacity.

– Starting in August, outdoor cultural events are authorised, capped to a maximum of 1,000 people.

 

TRANSPORT MEASURES

– 15 Subte underground stations to reopen: 10 on Monday, July 12 (Línea A – Plaza de Mayo, Acoyte; Línea B – Callao, Dorrego, Carlos Gardel; Línea C – Lavalle; Línea D – Callao, Palermo; Línea E – Boedo, Medalla Milagrosa) and the remaining five on Thursday, July 15 (Línea A – Carabobo, Loria; Línea C – San Martín; Línea E – José María Moreno; Línea H – Venezuela)

 

EDUCATION MEASURES

– In the second half of the year, the Segundo Boletín scheme will be implemented, said the mayor, who described it as a "personalised plan tailored to the needs of each high school student." Rodríguez Larreta said it would “set specific learning objectives and plans that involve children, teachers and families," providing support and additional help outside of class hours. 

 

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL

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