It’s the Tuesday after finishing a week of strict lockdown. June 1.
The cafes are back with chairs and tables, last week most were closed. A few choose to open but they only put a few tables out.
On Sunday nite, was the last nite of strict restrictions and being in by 6pm. After being in for two days, I decided to go on a walk about.
The parks were crowded with people sitting in groups socially distanced. Children and dogs were running about. And my favorite part, the sky was blue anc the sun was warm. Lots of folks just taking in the sun.
We are back to being in our homes by 8pm. At least the restaurants can serve outside again
Many are prepared for winter with heaters and blankets. Many have chosen to close. I read that 12,000 restaurants and hotels have closed in Bueno Aires.
Am sure, Paris, New York and many other large cities are experiencing the same loss.
But yet there are a brave few who are trying to figure out a way to stay in business. I support these folks.
On my way home on Sunday night I found a small asada outside one of my favorite little bars. I bought a churipan sándwich. And it was so good.
Empty streets in Buenos Aires, with the reminder to Maintain your distance
New protocols in Buenos Aires.
Now. New restrictions and new protocols are being put in place. By now maybe you have heard the news about the virus and Argentina. And it is not good. Earlier in the week the number of infected cases rose to 24, 000 and yesterday was 36, 000. Argentina is in the middle of it’s 2nd wave of corvid 19 infections.
And the restrictions are
As of tomorrow Saturday May 21 there is a a renewed push by the president of Argentina and all the regional governors and the city of BsAs to reduce these numbers drastically. The way the governments have chosen to do this is a return to the strict protocols of last year. These new protocols are in effect until May 31. We can only shop in our neighborhoods. Again the food store and pharmacies will stay open, but most other retail will be closed. Closed are gyms, clothing stores and the malls Malls have been closed for a while. No gatherings of any sort. The restaurants and cafes on the streets are only open for delivery or take out. You cannot be out on the street past 6pm.
Maybe this time
Now, perhaps a bit of better news. Two of those days of restrictions, Monday and Tuesday are a holiday here, 24th y 25th de mayo. The holiday is known as First Patriotic Government created to commemorate the 1810 revolution the first Argentine government and Independence from Spain. Among most local business, the closure 3 or 4 days out of 10 days as many stores are closed on Sunday. And the weekend of June 5th & 6th again business where folks can gather will be closed. Am hopefully the slow recovery that I have been seeing will not be impacted so badly.
And now with the vaccine
In Argentina with the cooler weather upon us, the need to bring the cases down is crucial. As has happened in the Northern Hemisphere, the virus proliferates with the colder weather and the indoor environment.
The vaccination process here is slow as the delivery of the vaccine is still sporadic. Right now, the recently signed agreement with the manufacturers of the Sputnik vaccine allows for this vaccine to be made in Argentinean medical labs. I have been told, the medical laboratories in Argentina are among the finest in the world. Recently Argentina received COVID 19 vaccines thru the COVAX deal will receive almost 2 million doses. In Argentina many more vaccines are in need. As of today, less than 10% of the 44 million people have been vaccinated
Personally for me
Currently I am in the process of getting my temporary residencia. This process will allows me to live here for 6 or more months a year without having to leave every 3 months to get a visa. In January 2021, I started my immigration paperwork. This process is long and arduous. In these times, getting any paperwork from any government takes of time. Nowadays because of receiving this certificate I was allowed to get vaccinated.
Understandably, the US Embassy both here in Argentina and elsewhere in the world are unable to help out with vaccinating the citizens who choose to live abroad. Ironically we pay our taxes and can vote, but cannot get a vaccine. Somehow that does not seem proper, especially in these new times of the virus.
As of today, Friday April 16th, 2021 day 393 of Quarantine, the president of Argentina Alberto Fernandez had added extra protocols to the current restrictions, as Argentina is experiencing it’s second wave of coronavirus. Yesterday’s numbers were very high for the 3rd day in a row, approximately 29,000 new cases…the hospitals are experiencing a large influx of cases.
The most impactful restrictions are no one is allowed out after 8pm or before 6 am. The city is locked down at night from the rest of the province to prevent further transmissions.
Business and restaurants have to be closed and employees home by 8pm.
But by far the one that has caused the most reactions are the closing of all schools again, after barely a couple of months of being open.
This leaves many upset and frustrated parents, as all involved where settling into a new pattern and kids were getting the education that they lacked for the previous months of lockdown. This restrictions is only suposed to be until April 30th…many parents and educators fear will be the rest of the year. Personally I believe that parents and students and teachers will not allow this to happen. Am sure a large demonstration will occur. And perhaps the school lockdown will only go until the end of April.
Meanwhile the signs of fall are in the air. The mornings have a slight chill until the sun and its warmth are directly overhead.
For a closed to the world country, I find it odd to hear so many planes in the sky and recently lots of helicopters flying around the city. The president, did mention bringing in the army to supplement the police in the compliance of the new restrictions.
Worlwide, we all have pandemic burnout, but will see what people will endure from the government for their own protections.
The world is a big crazy place…we only have the moment.
From Buenos Aires, listening to tango music of Osvaldo Pugliese’s Amurado on my laptop, I am reminded why I live in this beautiful city, where resiliency is the middle name of all the people. We will survive.
