COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina

On 12 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, who was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.elsevier.com/connect/coronavirus-information-center|title=Novel Coronavirus Information Center|last=Elsevier|website=Elsevier Connect|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130171622/https://www.elsevier.com/connect/coronavirus-information-center|archive-date=30 January 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}}{{Cite news|last=Reynolds|first=Matt|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-coronavirus|title=What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?|date=4 March 2020|magazine=Wired UK|access-date=5 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305104806/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-coronavirus|archive-date=5 March 2020|issn=1357-0978}} The case fatality rate for COVID-19{{cite web|url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196137/crunching-numbers-coronavirus/|title=Crunching the numbers for coronavirus|website=Imperial News|date=13 March 2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319084913/https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196137/crunching-numbers-coronavirus/|archive-date=19 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid|title=High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England|website=GOV.UK|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303051938/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid|archive-date=3 March 2020|access-date=17 March 2020}} has been much lower than the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak, but transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.{{cite web|url=https://www.wfsahq.org/resources/coronavirus|title=World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus|website=wfsahq.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312233527/https://www.wfsahq.org/resources/coronavirus|archive-date=12 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}} Model-based simulations for Argentina indicate that the 95% confidence interval for the time-varying reproduction number R{{sub|t}} exceeded 1.0 from April to July 2020, after which it diminished to below 1.0 in October and November 2020.{{cite news|title=Situation Report for COVID-19: Argentina|url=https://mrc-ide.github.io/global-lmic-reports/ARG/|publisher=MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London|access-date=21 September 2020|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031040626/https://mrc-ide.github.io/global-lmic-reports/ARG/|url-status=dead}}

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After the cruise ship Diamond Princess was quarantined in the Port of Yokohama in Japan after 10 passengers were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic,{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: confirman diez enfermos más en el crucero varado en Japón con ocho argentinos |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/coronavirus-china-argentinos-crucero-japon-cuarentena-epidemia-nid2331095 |work=La Nación |date=6 February 2020 |language=es}} among the passengers diagnosed positive was the first Argentine infected, a 61-year-old man traveling with his wife, who had no symptoms. The patient was later transferred to a hospital in Japan.{{cite news |title=Un argentino contrajo coronavirus en el crucero en Japón y fue derivado a un hospital |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/primer-latinoamericano-pasajero-argentino-del-crucero-japon-nid2331517 |work=La Nación |date=7 February 2020 |language=es}} The other seven Argentines on board, including his wife, remained on the ship in quarantine until 21 February.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: evacuaron a cinco argentinos del crucero Diamond Princess y dos siguen aislados |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/coronavirus-salio-mayoria-argentinos-del-crucero-diamond-nid2336005 |work=La Nación |date=21 February 2020 |language=es}} The man was finally released on 17 February. He left Japan on 24 February and arrived in Argentina on 26 February.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: el primer argentino que se contagió en el crucero japonés se recuperó y volvió al país |url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/03/04/coronavirus-el-primer-argentino-que-se-contagio-en-el-crucero-japones-se-recupero-y-volvio-al-pais/ |work=Infobae |date=4 March 2020 |language=es}}

File:Conferencia primer caso covid argentina.jpg Ginés González García (center) announcing the first case of COVID-19 in the country, 3 March 2020]]

A first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Buenos Aires on 3 March, in a 43-year-old man who had arrived two days earlier from Milan, Italy. Two days later, the second case was confirmed in a 23-year-old man living in Buenos Aires, who had recently returned from Northern Italy.{{cite news |title=Confirman el segundo caso de coronavirus en Argentina|url=https://www.cronista.com/informaciongral/Confirman-el-segundo-caso-de-coronavirus-en-Argentina-20200305-0056.html |access-date=6 March 2020 |work=El Cronista |date=5 March 2020 |language=es}} Rapidly, on the next day the total cases increased to eight.{{cite news |title=Hay seis casos confirmados en el país |url=https://tn.com.ar/salud/lo-ultimo/coronavirus-en-la-argentina-hay-cinco-casos-confirmados-en-el-pais_1040396 |access-date=6 March 2020 |work=Todo Noticias |date=6 March 2020|language=es}}

The Ministry of Health confirmed the country's first death from coronavirus in the country on 7 March, a 64-year-old man who had traveled to Paris who also had other health conditions. The person was not among the eight already diagnosed with the disease and was diagnosed post-mortem.{{cite news |last1=Costa |first1=José María |title=Confirman el primer muerto por coronavirus en la Argentina: un hombre de 64 años que estuvo en Francia |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/confirman-primer-muerto-coronavirus-argentina-hombre-63-nid2341027 |access-date=11 March 2020 |work=La Nación |date=7 March 2020|language=es}}

On 11 March, the government also announced a mandatory 14-day-quarantine to every person that returned to Argentina from highly affected countries including China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, the United States and all of Europe.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: será obligatoria la cuarentena para quienes regresen de los países más afectados |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/coronavirus-argentina-obligatoria-cuarentena-regresen-paises-afectados_0_RzSTtB0N.html |access-date=18 April 2020 |work=Clarín |date=11 March 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Cuarentena por coronavirus: cuáles son los países de riesgo para los viajeros que vuelven a la Argentina |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/cuarentena-coronavirus-argentina-paises-riesgo-viajeros-vuelven-pais_0_rQLWFB_r.html |access-date=18 April 2020 |work=Clarín |date=9 March 2020 |language=es}} The first cases from local transmission were confirmed on the next day in Buenos Aires and the provinces of Buenos Aires, Chaco, and Córdoba.{{Cite news|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/03/12/confirmaron-otros-nueve-casos-de-coronavirus-en-la-argentina-y-cuatro-de-ellos-son-autoctonos/|title=Confirmaron otros diez casos de coronavirus y tres de ellos se contagiaron en la Argentina|date=12 March 2020|work=Infobae|access-date=12 March 2020|language=es}} In Chaco, the first native transmission was also confirmed.{{cite web |title=Chaco confirma el primer caso vinculado con importación de COVID19 |url=https://www.jujuyalmomento.com/chaco/chaco-confirma-el-primer-caso-vinculado-importacion-covid19-n104145|website=jujuyalmomento.com|date=12 March 2020 |access-date=13 March 2020|language=es}} The first patient with the virus in the country was discharged and left hospital in Buenos Aires the next day.{{cite news|title=Dieron de alta al primer infectado por coronavirus en la Argentina|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/03/12/dieron-de-alta-al-primer-infectado-por-coronavirus-en-la-argentina/|access-date=12 March 2020|work=Infobae|date=12 March 2020|language=es}}{{cite news |title=Dieron el alta al "paciente cero" local pero debe seguir en aislamiento domiciliario |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202003/440520-paciente-cero-alta-coronavirus.html |access-date=13 March 2020 |agency=Télam |date=13 March 2020 |language=es}}

Tierra del Fuego was put on lockdown on 16 March, becoming the first province to do so.{{cite news|title=Todo Tierra del Fuego queda en cuarentena hasta el 31 de marzo|url=https://www.infofueguina.com/tu-ciudad/2020/3/16/todo-tierra-del-fuego-queda-en-cuarentena-hasta-el-31-de-marzo-45257.html|website=infofueguina.com|access-date=17 March 2020|date=16 March 2020|language=es}} The provinces of Chaco, Misiones, Salta, Jujuy, Mendoza and Tierra del Fuego closed their borders on 18 March.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: seis provincias argentinas se autoaislaron |url=https://www.minutouno.com/notas/5089473-coronavirus-seis-provincias-argentinas-se-autoaislaron |access-date=18 April 2020 |work=Minuto Uno |date=18 March 2020 |language=es}} On the next day, in the night of 19 March, President Alberto Fernández announced a mandatory lockdown, in effect from midnight on 20 March until 31 March, but on 29 March Fernández announced that the mandatory lockdown would be extended until 12 April.{{cite news|title=Argentina extends coronavirus quarantine until mid April|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina/argentina-extends-coronavirus-quarantine-until-mid-april-idUSKBN21H034|access-date=30 March 2020|work=Reuters|date=29 March 2020}}

On 23 March, Ministry of Health officials reported the virus was spreading via "community transmission" in the City of Buenos Aires, its surroundings and some cities in Chaco, Tierra del Fuego and Córdoba provinces.{{cite news|title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: se registró el primer caso de transmisión comunitaria|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/03/23/coronavirus-en-la-argentina-se-registro-el-primer-caso-sin-antecedente-de-viajes-o-contacto-estrecho-con-un-enfermo/|access-date=24 March 2020|work=Infobae|date=23 March 2020|language=es}} March concluded with 1,054 confirmed cases and 27 fatal victims.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: murieron tres mujeres y ya son 27 los fallecidos en el país |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/coronavirus-argentina-fallecio-mujer-chaco-muertos-ascienden-25_0_7P9Ga3DEP.html |access-date=4 April 2020 |work=Clarín |date=31 March 2020 |language=es}}

On 8 April, President Fernández announced that the mandatory lockdown would be extended beyond 12 April, with "flexibilization" of few activities only.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: la cuarentena se extenderá hasta el jueves 23 y será menos flexible de lo que se esperaba |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/cuarentena-extendera-jueves-23-flexible-esperado_0_Oapxli-B4.html |access-date=8 April 2020 |work=Clarín |date=7 April 2020 |language=es}} In the night of 10 April, Fernández confirmed that the lockdown would be extended until 26 April in major cities,{{cite news |title=Argentina's Fernandez extends coronavirus lockdown through April 26 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirius-argentina-lockdow/argentinas-fernandez-extends-coronavirus-lockdown-through-april-26-idUSKCN21T00I?il=0 |access-date=10 April 2020 |work=Reuters |date=10 April 2020}} and that the flexibilization of restrictions in zones with lesser risk would be analysed.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: la cuarentena continuará hasta el 26 de abril, pero se flexibilizará en zonas del interior |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/coronavirus-argentina-cuarentena-continuara-igual-grandes-ciudades-administrara-zonas-interior_0_BARh39KmC.html |access-date=10 April 2020 |work=Clarín |date=10 April 2020 |language=es}} A third phase of the lockdown was later announced by the president on 25 March, extending it to major cities until 10 May.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: la cuarentena sigue hasta el 10 de mayo y adultos y niños podrán salir una hora al día |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/coronavirus-argentina-cuarentena-extendera-10-mayo-formato-diferenciado-zonas_0_ZBwqCQH2e.html |work=Clarín |date=25 April 2020 |language=es}}

After appearance of three asymptomatic cases, Buenos Aires authorities introduced compulsory masking starting on 14 April. Wearing a face mask was made obligatory for everyone on public transit and everyone who contacts the public in their position. Violators would face a fine. Authorities also prohibited the sale of N95 respirators to non-medical workers, suggesting the general public to use home-made masks instead.{{cite news |url=https://santiagotimes.cl/2020/04/14/covid-19-face-masks-mandatory-in-buenos-aires-as-of-next-wednesday |title=COVID-19: Face masks mandatory in Buenos Aires as of next Wednesday |work=The Santiago Times |date=14 April 2020 }}

April finally concluded with 4,415 confirmed cases, 218 deaths and 1,245 recoveries.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: confirman otras 4 muertes y 143 nuevos casos en las últimas 24 horas |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/coronavirus-argentina-confirman-4-muertes-143-nuevos-casos-ultimas-24-horas_0_xmzgGpuYy.html |access-date=30 April 2020 |work=Clarín |date=30 April 2020 |language=es}}

File:COVID-19-Argentina-log.svg.]]

On 8 May, Fernández announced that the national lockdown would be "relaxed" throughout the country with the exception of Greater Buenos Aires, where the lockdown was extended first until 24 May,{{cite news|title=Argentina extends quarantine for capital Buenos Aires, relaxes elsewhere – President |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-argentina/argentina-extends-quarantine-for-capital-buenos-aires-relaxes-elsewhere-president-idUSL1N2CR00B |access-date=9 May 2020 |work=Reuters |date=9 May 2020}}{{cite news |title=Argentina extends coronavirus quarantine until May 10 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina/argentina-extends-coronavirus-quarantine-until-may-10-idUSKCN228007?il=0 |work=Reuters |date=25 April 2020}} and later until 7 June (on 23 May), due to a significant increase in the number of new cases in the previous days of the announcement.{{cite news |last1=Raszewski |first1=Eliana |last2=Garrison |first2=Cassandra |title=Buenos Aires lockdown extended until June 7 after rise in coronavirus cases |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina/buenos-aires-lockdown-extended-until-june-7-after-rise-in-coronavirus-cases-idUSKBN22Z0YB?il=0 |access-date=23 May 2020 |work=Reuters |date=23 May 2020}} May ended with 16,838 confirmed cases, 539 deaths and 5,323 recoveries.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: se confirmaron 637 casos nuevos y 11 muertes en las últimas 24 horas |url=https://www.infobae.com/coronavirus/2020/05/31/coronavirus-en-argentina-se-confirmaron-637-casos-nuevos-y-11-muertes-en-las-ultimas-24-horas/ |work=Infobae |date=31 May 2020 |language=es}}

On 9 June, the government of the Formosa Province reported the first case of COVID-19 in its province, leaving the Catamarca Province as the only province that did not report any cases at the time.{{cite news |title=Primer caso de coronavirus en Formosa |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/271350-primer-caso-de-coronavirus-en-formosa |work=Página/12 |date=9 June 2020 |language=es}}

Martín Insaurralde, the mayor of Lomas de Zamora was diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated on 12 June.{{cite news |title=El intendente de Lomas de Zamora, Martín Insaurralde, confirmó que tiene coronavirus |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/06/12/el-intendente-de-lomas-de-zamora-martin-insaurralde-confirmo-que-tiene-coronavirus/ |work=Infobae |date=12 June 2020 |language=es}} After having meetings with the mayor, the Ministry of Social Development was also tested.{{cite news |title=Daniel Arroyo fue aislado de la comitiva presidencial y se hizo el hisopado para saber si se contagió de coronavirus |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/06/12/daniel-arroyo-fue-aislado-de-la-comitiva-presidencial-y-se-hizo-el-hisopado-para-saber-si-se-contagio-de-coronavirus/ |work=Infobae |date=12 June 2020 |language=es}} This led to the suspension of the previously planned president's visit to Catamarca, the only province that had not reported any cases to this date.{{cite news |title=La noticia de que Insaurralde tiene coronavirus obligó a Alberto Fernández a suspender su viaje a Catamarca |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/06/12/como-impacto-la-noticia-de-que-martin-insaurralde-tiene-coronavirus-en-la-comitiva-de-alberto-fernandez/ |work=Infobae |date=12 June 2020 |language=es}}

The first official data from ICU bed occupation became available on 24 June, with an occupation of 45 per cent throughout the country.{{cite news |last1=Costa |first1=José María |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: 38 muertos y 2635 contagios en un día |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/coronavirus-hoy-en-argentina-cuantos-casos-se-registran-al-24-de-junio-nid2385451 |access-date=25 June 2020 |work=La Nación |date=24 June 2020 |language=es}} A few days later, it was informed that June concluded with 64,517 confirmed cases, 1,307 deaths and 22,015 recoveries from the virus.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: se registraron 27 muertes y 2262 nuevos contagios |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/275697-coronavirus-en-argentina-se-registraron-27-muertes-y-2262-nu |access-date=1 July 2020 |work=Página/12 |date=30 June 2020 |language=es}}

On 3 July, The Governor of the Catamarca Province confirmed its first case within the province. Catamarca was the last province to report its first case since the virus reached the country on 3 March.{{cite news |title=Catamarca registró su primer caso de coronavirus y ya no hay provincias sin contagios |url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/07/03/catamarca-registro-su-primer-caso-de-coronavirus-y-ya-no-hay-provincias-sin-contagios/ |access-date=3 July 2020 |work=Infobae |date=3 July 2020 |language=es}}

At a press conference given by President Fernández, Governors Axel Kicillof (Province of Buenos Aires), Jorge Capitanich (Chaco), Gerardo Morales (Jujuy) and Arabela Carreras (Río Negro), and the Mayor of the City of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta on 17 July, it was announced that the lockdown would be loosened in the coming weeks, in an attempt to return to normality. Two weeks later, on 31 July, in another press conference, Fernández announced that the lockdown restrictions at that moment would continue until 16 August as there were a record of cases and deaths in the past days due to the virus.{{cite news |last1=Raszewski |first1=Eliana |last2=Garrison |first2=Cassandra |title=Argentina extends coronavirus lockdown as cases rise |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina/argentina-extends-coronavirus-lockdown-as-cases-rise-idUSKCN24W2MP |access-date=31 July 2020 |work=Reuters |date=31 July 2020}} July concluded with 191,289 confirmed cases, 3,543 deaths and 83,767 recoveries.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: se registraron 5929 nuevos contagios |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/282168-coronavirus-en-argentina-se-registraron-5929-nuevos-contagio |access-date=1 August 2020 |work=Página/12 |date=31 July 2020 |language=es}}

On 9 August, the Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 61,867 new recoveries on that day. This big jump was due to a revision on the definition of a recovery, which now included (among the discharged from the hospitals) mild cases in which the system would automatically discharge 10 days after the symptom onset date. This led to a recovery rate of 70% of confirmed COVID-19 cases through the date.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: el 70 por ciento de los infectados ya está recuperado |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/500226-con-33-nuevas-muertes-son-4556-los-fallecidos-por-coronavirus-en-el-pais.html |access-date=10 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=9 August 2020 |language=es}} President Fernández announced on 28 August that meetings of up to ten people in the open air, maintaining two meters of distance and using a face mask were authorised throughout the country. That same day, it was announced that the eased lockdown would be extended again until 20 September.{{cite news |last1=Heath |first1=Maximilian |title=Argentina reports record number of new COVID-19 cases but relaxes lockdown |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina/argentina-reports-record-number-of-new-covid-19-cases-but-relaxes-lockdown-idUSKBN25P01F |access-date=29 August 2020 |work=Reuters |date=28 August 2020}} August finally concluded with 417,722 confirmed cases, 8,660 deaths and 301,182 recoveries.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: confirmaron 9.309 nuevos contagios y 203 muertes en las últimas 24 horas |url=https://www.infobae.com/coronavirus/2020/08/31/coronavirus-en-argentina-confirmaron-9309-nuevos-contagios-y-203-muertes-en-las-ultimas-24-horas/ |access-date=1 September 2020 |work=Infobae |date=31 August 2020 |language=es}}

During this month, schools and sports began the return to their activities. Over 10,000 students in San Juan became the first to return to face-to-face classes through social distancing on 10 August.{{cite news |title=Students in San Juan Province become the first to return to face-to-face classes |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/students-in-san-juan-province-first-to-return-to-face-to-face-classes.phtml |access-date=10 August 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=10 August 2020}}{{cite news |title=En plena pandemia, volvieron las clases presenciales en San Juan |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/500577-en-plena-pandemia-volvieron-las-clases-presenciales-en-san-juan.html |access-date=10 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=10 August 2020 |language=es}} The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced that after health protocols being approved by the government, practices of the Men's First Division and Women's First Division would definitely return on 10 August.{{cite news |title=La pasión del fútbol se apresta a volver en Argentina |url=http://www.conmebol.com/es/la-pasion-del-futbol-se-apresta-volver-en-argentina |access-date=6 August 2020 |publisher=CONMEBOL |date=4 August 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Los entrenamientos de fútbol regresan el 10 de agosto |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/498375-entrenamientos-primera-division-masculina-femenino-regresan-10-de-agosto-copa-libertadores-reunion-coronavirus-pandemia.html |access-date=6 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=4 August 2020 |language=es}}

File:Apertura de hospitales - 03.jpg for COVID-19 patients.]]

On 14 August, it was confirmed that the governor of Jujuy (Gerardo Morales) and the Security Minister from the Province of Buenos Aires (Sergio Berni) tested positive for COVID-19.{{cite news |title=Gerardo Morales dio positivo en coronavirus |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/502629-gerardo-morales-positivo-coronavirus.html |access-date=15 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=14 August 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Berni dio positivo en coronavirus pero se encuentra "bien y sin síntomas" |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/502632-berni-dio-positivo-en-coronavirus-pero-se-encuentra-bien-y-sin-sintomas.html |access-date=15 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=14 August 2020 |language=es}} They both described that were "asymptomatic" and also "complying with isolation and all medical recommendations".{{cite news |title=Sergio Berni, Gerardo Morales test positive for coronavirus |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/sergio-berni-gerardo-morales-test-positive-for-coronavirus.phtml |access-date=15 August 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=14 August 2020}}

The lockdown was extended for three more weeks on 18 September, expecting it to last until 11 October. The contagion rate on the Greater Buenos Aires area dropped from 93 to 50.8 per cent from May though September, indicating that the virus increased its spreading through all the country. In the first 15 days of September, the provinces of Córdoba, Jujuy, La Rioja, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Tierra del Fuego and Tucumán registered exponential increases in their number of cases, with most of them showing high strain on their healthcare systems.{{cite news |title=Con un video y sin la palabra de Alberto Fernández, el Gobierno confirmó la extensión de la cuarentena hasta el 11 de octubre |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/09/18/con-un-video-y-sin-la-presencia-de-alberto-fernandez-el-gobierno-confirmo-la-extension-de-la-cuarentena-hasta-el-11-de-octubre/ |access-date=18 September 2020 |work=Infobae |date=18 September 2020 |language=es}} On 25 September, the Health Access Secretary informed that during the previous week there was a "stabilization trend" in the Greater Buenos Aires area with a "high peak of positive cases".{{cite news|title=El AMBA presenta una "meseta alta" y estabilizada de casos|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202009/518214-ministerio-salud-meseta-alta-estabilizada-coronavirus-amba.html|access-date=25 September 2020|agency=Télam|date=25 September 2020|language=es}} On the same day, it was confirmed that the Minister of Social Development, Daniel Arroyo, tested positive,{{cite news |title=El ministro de Desarrollo Social dio positivo en coronavirus y permanecerá en su domicilio |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202009/518184-daniel-arroyo-positivo-coronavirus.html |access-date=25 September 2020 |agency=Télam |date=25 September 2020 |language=es}} while the Minister of Health of Santa Fe was hospitalised in a hospital in Rosario due to a worsening of her symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19.{{cite news|title=Internaron a la ministra de Salud de Santa Fe por agravamiento en su cuadro de coronavirus|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202009/517989-internaron--ministra--salud--santa-feagravamiento--cuadro--coronavirus.html|access-date=25 September 2020|agency=Télam|date=24 September 2020|language=es}} September concluded with 750,988 cumulative confirmed cases, 16,937 cumulative deaths and 594,632 recoveries.{{cite news|title=Coronavirus en Argentina: confirmaron 419 muertes y 14.392 nuevos contagios en las últimas 24 horas|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/09/30/coronavirus-en-argentina-confirmaron-419-muertes-y-14392-nuevos-contagios-en-las-ultimas-24-horas/|access-date=2 October 2020|work=Infobae|date=30 September 2020|language=es}}

On 2 October, the governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, isolated with his family after having contact with a government worker who tested positive for COVID-19.{{cite news|title=Axel Kicillof se encuentra aislado por haber tenido contacto estrecho con un caso positivo de coronavirus|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/10/02/axel-kicillof-se-encuentra-aislado-por-haber-tenido-contacto-estrecho-con-un-caso-positivo-de-coronavirus/|access-date=2 October 2020|work=Infobae|date=2 October 2020|language=es}} One week later, Fernández announced that due to the epidemiological situation in the previous weeks, the lockdown would continue for another two weeks until 25 October. Contagion rate from greater Buenos Aires diminished versus the rest of the country. As of this date, 65 per cent of the total daily confirmed cases came from all the country except the Greater Buenos Aires area, which was the main contagion focus in the past months. The provinces of Río Negro, Mendoza, Tucumán, Santa Fe, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Neuquén and Córdoba saw an increase in the number of occupied ICU beds, with Río Negro reaching to an 88 per cent of occupation.{{cite news|title=Las principales definiciones de Alberto Fernández sobre la nueva etapa de asilamiento social|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/298114-las-principales-definiciones-de-alberto-fernandez-sobre-la-n|work=Página/12|date=9 October 2020|language=es}}

On 20 October, Argentina confirmed over 1,000,000 positive cases, becoming the fifth country to do so and the second country in South America to pass the landmark.{{cite news|last1=Deluca|first1=Nicolás|last2=Calatrava|first2=Almudena|last3=Armario|first3=Cristine|title=Argentina passes 1 million cases as virus hits Latin America|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/argentina-passes-million-cases-virus-hits-latin-america-73707856|access-date=21 October 2020|work=ABC News|date=20 October 2020}} Three days later, it was announced that the lockdown would continue for another two weeks in provinces with a high number of daily new confirmed cases. October finally ended with a total of 1,166,911 cases, 31,002 deaths and 973,926 recoveries from the virus.{{cite news|title=Argentina reporta 9.745 nuevos casos de coronavirus y 211 muertes|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2020/10/31/argentina-reporta-9745-nuevos-casos-de-coronavirus-y-211-muertes/|access-date=5 November 2020|work=Infobae|date=31 October 2020|language=es}}

During the first days of November, the government announced that will acquire during December 2020 and January 2021, 25 million of doses from the Russian vaccine Sputnik V after it would enter phase III.{{cite news|last1=Boadle|first1=Anthony|last2=Raszewski|first2=Eliana|last3=Garrison|first3=Cassandra|title=Argentina expects 10 million doses of Russian COVID-19 vaccine|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2HO4WN|access-date=6 November 2020|work=Reuters|date=2 November 2020}}{{cite news |title=Argentina agrees to buy 25 million doses of Russia's Covid-19 vaccine |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-agrees-to-buy-25-million-doses-of-russias-covid-19-vaccine.phtml |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=3 November 2020}}{{cite news|title=Salud confirmó que adquirirá 25 millones de dosis de la vacuna rusa si pasa la fase 3|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202011/532044-salud-confirma-dosis-vacuna-rusa.html|access-date=5 November 2020|agency=Télam|date=4 November 2020|language=es}} Other vaccines such as the developed by University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and China were also announced to be acquired eventually.{{cite news|last1=Heath|first1=Maximilian|title=Argentina 'could receive' 750,000 doses of eventual Pfizer vaccine: Fernandez|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27M2XW|access-date=7 November 2020|work=Reuters|date=6 November 2020}}

The president also said on 3 November, that "the horizon was starting to come into sight", after the 7-day average of new cases dipped significantly after hitting a high on 21 October.{{cite news|last1=Jourdan|first1=Adam|title=Argentina's Fernandez says 'horizon' in sight as COVID-19 cases appear to slow|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27J2C8|access-date=5 November 2020|work=Reuters|date=3 November 2020}} This led to an end on the lockdown established in the Greater Buenos Aires area after more than seven months, set to conclude on 8 November and moving into the social distancing phase. November concluded with 1,424,518 confirmed cases, 38,730 deaths and 1,257,214 recoveries.{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: reportan 257 muertes y 5726 nuevos casos en las últimas 24 horas|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/coronavirus-argentina-parte-salud-nid2525860|work=La Nación|date=30 November 2020|language=es}}

File:Alberto Fernández recibió la primera dosis de la vacuna Sputnik V.jpg vaccine.]]

On 22 December the flight that would bring the first doses of the Sputnik V vaccine to the country left for Moscow,{{cite news|title=Parte hacia Moscú el vuelo que traerá al país las primeras dosis de la Sputnik V|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202012/539297-aerolineas-argentinas-rusia-sputnik-v.html|agency=Télam|date=22 December 2020|language=es}} after negotiations began in early December.{{cite news|title=Government inks deal for 10 million doses of Russia's Covid-19 vaccine|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/government-inks-deal-for-10-million-doses-of-russias-covid-19-vaccine.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=12 December 2020}} 300,000 doses arrived on 24 December,{{cite news|last1=Otaola|first1=Jorge|last2=Sherwood|first2=Dave|title=Argentina to launch COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Tuesday|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2J60CC|work=Reuters|date=26 December 2020}} with the vaccination campaign beginning on 29 December.{{cite news|last1=Misculin|first1=Nicolás|last2=Sherwood|first2=Dave|title=Argentina begins COVID vaccination drive with Russia's Sputnik V|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2931HR|work=Reuters|date=29 December 2020}} The governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, was among the first to receive the vaccine.{{cite news|title=Kicillof among first to receive Russian vaccine in Argentina|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/kicillof-among-first-to-receive-russian-vaccine-in-argentina.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=29 December 2020}} One day later, the AZD1222 vaccine developed by University of Oxford and AstraZeneca was also approved in the country.{{cite news|title=Argentina approves AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid vaccine|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-approves-astrazeneca-oxford-covid-vaccine.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=30 December 2020}} The last report of December informed that there were 1,613,911 confirmed cases, 43,163 deaths and 1,426,659 recoveries from the virus at the end of 2020.{{cite news|title=Coronavirus en Argentina: confirmaron 145 muertes y 11.765 nuevos contagios en las últimas 24 horas|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/12/30/coronavirus-en-argentina-confirmaron-145-nuevas-muertes-y-11765-casos-en-las-ultimas-24-horas/|work=Infobae|date=30 December 2020|language=es}}

Towards the end of the Christmas and holiday season, there was a rise on the number of daily confirmed cases. This concerned President Fernández, whom appealed to call for "individual responsibility".{{cite news|title=Fernández: 'People aren't being careful… the pandemic is not over'|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/fernandez-people-arent-being-careful-the-pandemic-is-not-over.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=4 January 2021}} On 6 January, the Chief of Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, tested positive for COVID-19.{{cite news|title=City Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta tests positive for Covid-19|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/city-mayor-horacio-rodriguez-larreta-tests-positive-for-covid-19.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=6 January 2021}}

On 8 January, the government announced an immediate national night-time curfew after a big rise in the number of infections in the previous weeks. It ran daily from 1–6 a.m., and was intended to reduce the viral circulation.{{cite news|title=Argentina to introduce national night-time curfew to reduce Covid-19 infections|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-set-for-national-night-time-curfew-to-reduce-covid-19-infections.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=8 January 2021}}{{cite news|title=Government decree details new nighttime restrictions|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/government-decree-lays-out-new-nighttime-restrictions.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=9 January 2021}}{{cite news|title=Government restricts nighttime activities in bid to halt virus|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/government-restricts-nighttime-activities-in-bid-to-halt-virus.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=9 January 2021}}

The first case from the lineage B.1.1.7 of the virus was confirmed on 16 January, one month after being reported in the United Kingdom in mid-December.{{cite news|title=Argentina detects first case of British coronavirus variant|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-detects-first-case-of-british-coronavirus-variant.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=16 January 2021}} This variant is known for showing evidence of increased transmissibility.{{Cite web|title=New evidence on VUI-202012/01 and review of the public health risk assessment|url=https://khub.net/documents/135939561/338928724/New+SARS-COV-2+variant+-+information+and+risk+assessment.pdf/b56d4591-0466-1a18-28dc-010e0fdeef53?t=1608569319930|date=15 December 2020|website=Knowledge Hub}}

On 21 January, President Fernández became the first Latin American leader to be inoculated against the disease via the recently approved Sputnik V.{{cite news|title=Argentina's president sits for Russian Covid jab|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210121-argentina-s-president-sits-for-russian-covid-jab|publisher=France 24|date=21 January 2021}}{{cite news|last=Centenera|first=Mar|title=Alberto Fernández, primer presidente de América Latina en vacunarse contra la covid-19|url=https://www.elpais.com/internacional/2021-01-21/alberto-fernandez-recibe-la-primera-dosis-de-la-vacuna-rusa-contra-la-covid-19.html|work=El País|date=21 January 2021|language=es}} He was later followed by Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who received the vaccine on 24 January.{{cite news|title=Cristina Fernandez releases a picture of her receiving a Russian Sputnik shot|url=https://en.mercopress.com/2021/01/25/cristina-fernandez-releases-a-picture-of-her-receiving-a-russian-sputnik-shot|work=MercoPress|date=25 January 2021}}

On 19 February, the president asked the Minister of Health Ginés González García to resign, after media reported that people were able to use connections to get access to the COVID-19 vaccines.{{cite news|title=VIP vaccine scandal: President asks health minister to resign|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/vip-vaccine-scandal-president-asks-health-minister-to-resign.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=19 February 2021}} This came to light after journalist Horacio Verbitsky said he received a shot after being offered by the minister.{{cite news|last=Heath|first=Maximilian|title=UPDATE 1-Argentina health minister asked to resign after reports of VIP vaccine access|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2KP2SP|work=Reuters|date=19 February 2021}} On the next day, former Health Access Secretary Carla Vizzotti was sworn as the new Minister of Health, pledging fair vaccine access after the scandal.{{cite news|last=Bianchi|first=Walter|title=Argentina's new health minister pledges fair vaccine access after scandal|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2AK0S8|work=Reuters|date=20 February 2021}}

On 29 March, the government confirmed community contact cases from various SARS-CoV-2 variants. Cases from the lineage B.1.1.7 (from the United Kingdom) showed an increase in the frequency of detection of the variant in Greater Buenos Aires during the previous epidemiological weeks. Other cases from the P.1 (from Brazil/Japan), P.2 (Brazil) and CAL.20C variants (United States), and L452R mutations were also found among the population.{{cite news|title=Se detectan casos de las variantes de Reino Unido, Manaos, Río de Janeiro y California sin nexo epidemiológico ni contacto estrecho con viajeros|trans-title=Cases of the variants of the United Kingdom, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro and California are detected without epidemiological nexus or close contact with travelers|url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/se-detectan-casos-de-las-variantes-de-reino-unido-manaos-rio-de-janeiro-y-california-sin|publisher=Government of Argentina|date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329230909/https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/se-detectan-casos-de-las-variantes-de-reino-unido-manaos-rio-de-janeiro-y-california-sin|archive-date=29 March 2021|language=es}}

President Fernández tested positive for COVID-19 on 3 April, showing mild symptoms.{{cite news|last=Raszewski|first=Eliana|title=Argentina says president has coronavirus; doctor calls case 'mild'|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2BQ03X|work=Reuters|date=3 April 2021}} Fernández had been previously received the full vaccination against the virus earlier on the same year.{{cite news|title=PCR test confirms President Alberto Fernández has Covid-19|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/pcr-test-confirms-president-alberto-fernandez-has-covid-19.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=3 April 2021}} During the first week of April, there was also an increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, leading to the begin of the second wave of the pandemic in the country.{{cite news|last=Bianchi|first=Walter|title=Argentina posts daily record COVID-19 cases as second wave hits|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2LZ2KT|work=Reuters|date=6 April 2020}} On 8 April, during a visit by United States Southern Command chief Craig S. Faller to the country, the United States announced the donation of three mobile hospitals, oxygen generators, among other supplies for other areas. The United States also donated equipment for training on response to situations of disasters or a pandemic.{{cite news|last=Niebieskikwiat|first=Natasha|title=Estados Unidos donó tres hospitales móviles y Argentina pidió ayuda por más vacunas|trans-title=The United States donated three mobile hospitals and Argentina asked for help for more vaccines|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/unidos-dono-hospitales-moviles-argentina-pidio-ayuda-vacunas_0_RRca2__eo.html|access-date=9 April 2021|work=Clarín|date=8 April 2021|language=es}}

New restrictions were applied since 16 April in Greater Buenos Aires after a rise in the number of new confirmed cases and ICU bed occupation, including a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and the closing of schools for two weeks.{{Cite web|date=21 April 2021|title=World News {{!}} Argentina Reports over 29,000 New COVID-19 Cases|url=https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/world-news-argentina-reports-over-29000-new-covid-19-cases-2433780.html|access-date=21 April 2021|website=LatestLY}} Even with those restrictions, cases continued to rise, leading to the government's decision to implement another nationwide lockdown from 22 to 31 May 2021.

After a delay in the delivery of second doses of the Sputnik V vaccine, the government announced on 5 August that they would begin applying Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines as replacements of the second doses of the Russian vaccine.{{cite news|last1=Sigal|first1=Lucila|last2=Nikolskaya|first2=Polina|title=Argentina handles Sputnik V delay by giving second jabs of other vaccines|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentina-handles-sputnik-v-delay-by-giving-second-jabs-other-vaccines-2021-08-05/|work=Reuters|date=5 August 2021}} Later, it was reported that Argentina's Richmond laboratories delivered nearly a million doses of the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine produced in the country to the Ministry of Health.{{cite news|last1=Nikolskaya|first1=Polina|last2=Sigal|first2=Lucila|title=Argentina's Laboratorios Richmond supplies 1st batch of Russian vaccine|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentinas-laboratorios-richmond-supplies-1st-batch-russian-vaccine-2021-08-12/|work=Reuters|date=12 August 2021}}

During August, Buenos Aires City's Health Minister Fernán Quirós announced that the COVID-19 Delta variant was very close to enter into community transmission.{{cite news|title=Quiros: Delta variant of Covid-19 'very close' to community transmission|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/quiros-delta-variant-of-covid-19-very-close-to-community-transmission.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=17 August 2021}} It was later confirmed on 24 August that the first case of contagion via community circulation of the Delta variant was found in Lanús, in Buenos Aires Province.{{cite news|title=Delta case of community circulation detected in Buenos Aires Province|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/delta-case-of-community-circulation-detected-in-buenos-aires-province.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=24 August 2021}}

On 6 December, the health ministry announced the detection of the first positive case of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated Argentine traveler, who entered country by airplane on 30 November from South Africa via the United States.{{Cite news|date=2021-12-06|title=Argentina detects first Omicron case, health ministry says|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentina-detects-first-omicron-case-health-ministry-says-2021-12-06/|access-date=2022-01-10}}

On 7 January, Argentina surpassed over 110,000 positive tests in a single day, marking a record number of cases for a fourth consecutive day due to the surge of Omicron cases.{{Cite web|title=Buenos Aires Times {{!}} Third wave batters Argentina, breaking Covid records|url=https://batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/third-wave-batters-argentina-breaking-covid-records.phtml|access-date=2022-01-10|website=batimes.com.ar}}

On 11 January, Carla Vizzotti confirmed changes for isolation protocols and explained that "the testing strategy is focused on people with symptoms". She said "the virus is behaving in an endemic way" and stated that "most infections are very mild and moderate". She discouraged attending social gatherings and mass events, and went on to mention the value of immunity from vaccination and natural infection.{{cite web | url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/394726-carla-vizzotti-el-virus-se-esta-comportando-de-forma-endemic | title=Carla Vizzotti: "El virus se está comportando de forma endémica" | la funcionaria confirmó por AM750 los cambios en el aislamiento por contacto estrecho | date=11 January 2022 }}

File:SARS CoV-2 ANLIS - Malbrán.jpg taken by the Cell Biology and Neuroscience Institute "Professor E. de Robertis", UBA-CONICET.]]

The Ministry of Health summoned health professionals to provide health services in the context of the pandemic, in search of reinforcing the teams made up by the national and provincial governments. This call included nurses, biochemists, physiotherapists and physicians, in particular in the fields of medical clinic, cardiology, pneumonology, adult and paediatric intensive care, emergentology, paediatrics and general and/or family medicine. Proposals from professionals from other specialties were also received.{{cite news |title=Ministerio de Salud Convoca a profesionales para reforzar dotación de equipos sanitarios |url=https://voluntarios.msal.gov.ar/start |access-date=22 May 2020 |publisher=Ministry of Health of Argentina |language=es}} Around 4,000 people joined a call from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) to summon volunteers to help on the influenza vaccination campaign, advanced medical students to be in triage in tents near hospitals where the patients will be first checked, volunteers to do a follow-up of isolated patients at home with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19, and volunteers to work on logistics.{{cite news |title=Miles de argentinos se anotaron como voluntarios para trabajar contra el coronavirus |url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/coronavirus/miles-de-argentinos-se-anotaron-como-voluntarios-para-trabajar-contra-el-coronavirus.phtml |work=Perfil |date=24 March 2020 |language=es}}

The ANLIS-Malbrán (National Administration of Laboratories and Health Institutes "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán") began carrying out 300 daily COVID-19 tests. Later, after 820 confirmed cases were reached, the Ministry of Health started the delivery of 35,000 reactives to expand the number of laboratories for diagnosis to all 24 jurisdictions to decentralise the testings,{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: el Malbrán deja de ser el único centro de diagnóstico y se suman 35 laboratorios |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/coronavirus-diagnostico-malbran-laboratorios-35-mil-reactivos-nid2348572 |work=La Nación |date=29 March 2020 |language=es}} making the number of testings increase over time.{{cite news |last1=Kollmann |first1=Raúl |title=Coronavirus: el Malbrán recibió 50 mil tests para detectarlo |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/261029-coronavirus-el-malbran-recibio-50-mil-tests-para-detectarlo |work=Página 12 |date=21 April 2020 |language=es}} Private medical clinics would be able to do up to 7,500 daily tests to decompress the public health system. Previously, the delivery of the diagnostic result was taking four to five days on average for patients in private clinics.{{cite news |last1=Czubaj |first1=Fabiola |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: las clínicas privadas podrán hacer hasta 7500 tests diarios para descomprimir el sistema de salud público |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/coronavirus-argentina-clinicas-privadas-podran-hacer-7500-nid2359359 |access-date=22 May 2020 |work=La Nación |date=28 April 2020 |language=es}}

As an effort to fight and contain the virus, the Ministry of Health implemented a plan of contact tracing in defined areas where an increase in the number of cases is detected or estimated. The plan launched first in Buenos Aires and was later extended throughout the country.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: el operativo Detectar estrena protocolo para todo el país |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/268006-coronavirus-el-operativo-detectar-estrena-protocolo-para-tod |access-date=31 July 2020 |work=Página/12 |date=25 May 2020 |language=es}} The program, called Detectar (Detect in English; Strategic Testing Device for Coronavirus in Argentina Terrain), launched on May after a big jump in the number of cases in low socioeconomic class and densely populated neighbourhoods in Greater Buenos Aires, known as villas.{{cite news |title=Hay 519 casos confirmados en barrios populares y lanzan un plan de detección temprana |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202005/461934-son-519-los-casos-de-coronavirus-en-los-barrios-populares-de-la-ciudad-informo-vizzotti.html |access-date=31 July 2020 |agency=Télam |date=10 May 2020 |language=es}}

On 17 April 2020, a clinical trial based on plasma donation of recovered patients from COVID-19 was created to find out if the antibodies of a recovered patient could benefit those who are being infected.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: comenzó la campaña voluntaria de donación de sangre de pacientes recuperados para un futuro medicamento |url=https://www.infobae.com/salud/2020/04/25/coronavirus-en-argentina-comenzo-la-campana-voluntaria-de-donacion-de-sangre-de-pacientes-recuperados-para-un-futuro-medicamento/ |work=Infobae |date=25 April 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |last1=Hernández Otaño |first1=Camila |title="Queremos salvar a otros": vencieron al coronavirus y ahora donan su plasma a los enfermos |url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/05/06/queremos-salvar-a-otros-vencieron-al-coronavirus-y-ahora-donan-su-plasma-a-los-enfermos/ |access-date=22 May 2020 |work=Infobae |date=6 May 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |last1=Lo Bianco |first1=Miguel |title=Recovered COVID-19 patients donate plasma for treatment in Argentina |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina-plasma/recovered-covid-19-patients-donate-plasma-for-treatment-in-argentina-idUSKBN2441TO |access-date=3 July 2020 |work=Reuters |date=3 July 2020}} It began on hospitals and hemotherapy centers in Greater Buenos Aires and was later extended to the rest of the country.{{cite news |title=Donación de plasma de pacientes recuperados de COVID-19 |url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/coronavirus/donacion-de-plasma |access-date=22 May 2020 |publisher=Ministry of Health of Argentina |language=es |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519225914/https://www.argentina.gob.ar/coronavirus/donacion-de-plasma |url-status=dead }}

File:Vaccine candidate mechanisms for SARS-CoV-2 (49948301838).jpg

Argentine scientists developed a quick diagnosis test to detect the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), approved by the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish). The test, called NEOKIT-COVID-19, allows to obtain results in almost an hour and it offers a high degree of sensitivity (which reduces the possibility of false negatives) and specificity (which minimises the probability of false positives).{{cite news |title=Cómo funciona "Neokit-Covid-19", el nuevo test rápido de coronavirus desarrollado por científicos argentinos |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/funciona-neokit-covid-19-nuevo-test-rapido-coronavirus-desarrollado-cientificos-argentinos_0_F4g19OGqA.html |access-date=22 May 2020 |work=Clarín |date=18 May 2020 |language=es}} This test allows testing RNA samples and does not require complex equipment (such as thermal cyclers).{{cite news |title=Aprueban el uso de un nuevo test rápido y económico de diagnóstico molecular de COVID-19 |url=https://www.conicet.gov.ar/aprueban-el-uso-de-un-nuevo-test-rapido-y-economico-de-diagnostico-molecular-de-covid-19/ |publisher=CONICET |date=15 May 2020 |language=es}} It was expected that 10,000 tests would be produced within the first 10 days.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: cómo funciona el test de diagnóstico rápido desarrollado por científicos argentinos para detectar el SARS-CoV-2 |url=https://www.infobae.com/salud/ciencia/2020/05/15/coronavirus-en-argentina-como-funciona-el-test-de-diagnostico-rapido-desarrollado-por-cientificos-argentinos-para-detectar-el-sars-cov-2/ |work=Infobae |date=15 May 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: nuevo test argentino para detectar el virus |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/266176-coronavirus-nuevo-test-argentino-para-detectar-el-virus |work=Página 12 |date=16 May 2020 |language=es}} On 13 June 2020, a new announcement of another quick diagnosis test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 was made. Called ELA-chemstrip, it was developed by Argentine scientists from the National University of Quilmes and the National University of General San Martín.{{cite news |last1=Esteban |first1=Pablo |title=Coronavirus: Científicos argentinos diseñaron un nuevo kit de diagnóstico veloz, económico y preciso |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/272134-coronavirus-cientificos-argentinos-disenaron-un-nuevo-kit-de |access-date=13 June 2020 |work=Página/12 |date=13 June 2020 |language=es}} Another SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic kit with RT-qPCR technology was approved in September 2020 by ANMAT, while a new kit under development (as of that date), would allow the joint detection of SARS-CoV-2 and the viruses that cause influenza.{{cite news |title=La ANMAT aprobó el desarrollo de un nuevo kit de diagnóstico del coronavirus |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202009/518103-la-anmat-aprobo-el-desarrollo-de-un-nuevo-kit-de-diagnostico-del-coronavirus.html |access-date=25 September 2020 |agency=Télam |date=24 September 2020 |language=es}}

On 31 May 2020, it was announced that Argentine scientists were also working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, a project subsidised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation.{{cite news |last1=Reyes |first1=Francisco |title=Primer avance en Latinoamérica: Argentina desarrollará una vacuna contra el coronavirus |url=https://www.infobae.com/salud/ciencia/2020/05/31/primer-avance-en-latinoamerica-argentina-desarrollara-una-vacuna-contra-el-coronavirus/ |access-date=5 June 2020 |work=Infobae |date=31 May 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: científicos del CONICET se suman a la carrera para crear la vacuna contra el Covid-19 |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/coronavirus-argentina-cientificos-conicet-suman-carrera-crear-vacuna-covid-19_0_fRu3OcMv_.html |work=Clarín |date=31 May 2020 |language=es}} On 10 July 2020, pharmaceutical corporations Pfizer and BioNTech announced that the clinical trial for the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162 that was on phase I–II as of the day of the announcement, would begin on early-August in Argentina, soon after the trial began on Germany and the United States. After it would be approved by the ANMAT, the trial would take place at the Central Militar Hospital.{{cite news |last1=Lavieri |first1=Omar |title=Argentina fue seleccionada para probar la vacuna de Pfizer contra el coronavirus |url=https://www.infobae.com/salud/2020/07/10/argentina-fue-seleccionada-para-probar-la-vacuna-de-pfizer-contra-el-coronavirus/ |access-date=10 July 2020 |work=Infobae |date=10 July 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title="Experiencia científica y capacidades operativas": el comunicado de Pfizer sobre las razones por las que se eligió a la Argentina para probar la vacuna contra el COVID-19 |url=https://www.infobae.com/salud/2020/07/10/experiencia-cientifica-y-capacidades-operativas-el-comunicado-de-pfizer-sobre-las-razones-por-las-que-se-elegio-a-la-argentina-para-probar-la-vacuna-contra-el-covid-19/ |work=Infobae |date=10 July 2020 |language=es}} The trial is made by mRNA constructs and consists of four vaccines, randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-finding and vaccine candidate-selection, and would begin its phase IIb-III after preliminary data from the previous phase were positive.{{cite news |title=PFIZER AND BIONTECH ANNOUNCE EARLY POSITIVE DATA FROM AN ONGOING PHASE 1/2 STUDY OF MRNA-BASED VACCINE CANDIDATE AGAINST SARS-COV-2 |url=https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-early-positive-data-ongoing-0 |access-date=10 July 2020 |publisher=Pfizer |date=1 July 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Howard |first1=Jacqueline |title=La vacuna contra el coronavirus de Pfizer y BioNTech muestra datos "alentadores", según las primeras pruebas |url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2020/07/01/la-vacuna-contra-el-coronavirus-de-pfizer-y-biontech-muestra-datos-alentadores-segun-las-primeras-pruebas/ |access-date=10 July 2020 |publisher=CNN |date=1 July 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Argentina fue elegida para probar una vacuna contra el coronavirus |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202007/487836-vacuna-contra-coronavirus-argentina-prueba-pfizer-biontech.html |agency=Télam |date=10 July 2020 |language=es}} One month later, Fernández announced that the vaccine produced by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca (AZD1222) would begin production alongside Mexico after an agreement with the British pharmaceutical company and the biotechnology company {{Proper name|mAbxience}}. Initially 150 million doses of the vaccine would be produced to supply all of Latin America (with the exception of Brazil).{{cite news |last1=Raszewski |first1=Eliana |title=Argentina, Mexico to produce AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina-vaccine/argentina-and-mexico-to-produce-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-idUSKCN25903P |access-date=14 August 2020 |work=Reuters |date=12 August 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Cortes |first1=Raúl |last2=Solomon |first2=Daina Beth |title=AstraZeneca set to start making 400 million COVID-19 vaccines for Latam early in 2021 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-latam-vaccine/astrazeneca-set-to-start-making-400-million-covid-19-vaccines-for-latam-early-in-2021-idUSKCN2591Y1 |access-date=14 August 2020 |work=Reuters |date=13 August 2020}} As of the day of the announcement, the vaccine, consisting of modified chimp adenovirus vector,{{cite web |url=https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2020-001228-32/GB |title=A phase 2/3 study to determine the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of the candidate Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 |website=EU Clinical Trials Register |publisher=European Union |type=Registry |id=EudraCT 2020-001228-32 |date=21 April 2020 |access-date=3 August 2020}} was entering phase III.{{cite journal |url=http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN89951424 |title=A phase III study to investigate a vaccine against COVID-19 |website=ISRCTN |type=Registry |id=ISRCTN89951424 |doi=10.1186/ISRCTN89951424 |date=26 May 2020 |access-date=3 August 2020|last1=O'Reilly |first1=Peter |s2cid=242607670 |doi-access=free }}

A COVID-19 hyperimmune serum based on equine polyclonal antibodies was developed by Argentine biotech company {{not a typo|Inmunova}}. The antibodies were obtained by injecting a recombinant protein of SARS-CoV-2 in these animals, with in vitro testings demonstrating the ability to neutralise the virus. On 24 July 2020, the trial entered its phase II–III after being approved by ANMAT.{{cite news |last1=Nessi |first1=Hernán |title=Argentina starts trials on hyperimmune equine serum to treat COVID-19 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina-horses/argentina-starts-trials-on-hyperimmune-equine-serum-to-treat-covid-19-idUSKCN24U37L |access-date=31 July 2020 |work=Reuters |date=29 July 2020}}{{cite news |title=COVID-19: la ANMAT aprobó la investigación para el estudio clínico del suero equino hiperinmune |url=https://www.infobae.com/salud/2020/07/24/covid-19-la-anmat-aprobo-la-investigacion-para-el-estudio-clinico-del-suero-equino-hiperinmune/ |access-date=26 July 2020 |work=Infobae |date=24 July 2020 |language=es}}

File:Primeros vacunados en Argentina 10.jpg against COVID-19 in Buenos Aires.]]

On 3 November 2020, President Fernández announced in an interview with Russian news agency that government would receive an initial of more than 10 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine by as early as December 2020, after it would enter phase III. Other previously announced vaccines in development would also be acquired to a lesser extent by the government, such as those produced by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, Pfizer and China. Government officials also said that the deployment of any coronavirus vaccine in Argentina would not be mandatory.{{cite news |title=Government: Coronavirus vaccine 'won't be mandatory' in Argentina |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/government-says-coronavirus-vaccine-wont-be-mandatory-in-argentina.phtml |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=5 November 2020}} 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine arrived at the country in late December 2020. The Sputnik V and the BNT162b2 vaccines were the first to receive emergency approvals from ANMAT,{{cite news|title=Vaccination against Covid-19 to begin in Argentina on Tuesday|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/vaccination-against-covid-19-to-begin-in-argentina-on-tuesday.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times(Perfil)|date=27 December 2020}} On 30 December 2020, the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca's vaccine AZD1222 was also approved for use by ANMAT.

On 2 February 2021, it was announced that 1 million doses of the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine would arrive during February in Argentina.{{cite news|title=Ahora el Gobierno dice que en febrero llegarán 1 millón de vacunas procedentes de China|trans-title=The Government now says that 1 million vaccines from China will arrive on February|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/ahora-gobierno-dice-febrero-llegaran-1-millon-vacunas-procedentes-china_0_oc5bDHeoy.html|work=Clarín|date=2 February 2021|language=es}}

{{main article|COVID-19 vaccination in Argentina}}

Vaccination against COVID-19 began in Argentina on 29 December 2020 aiming at health professionals.{{cite news|title=Covid-19 vaccinations begin in provinces across country|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/covid-19-vaccinations-begin-in-provinces-across-country.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=29 December 2020}} During the first week, 39,599 doses were applied to health professionals.{{cite news|title=Ya se aplicaron 39.599 dosis de la vacuna contra COVID-19 al personal de salud|trans-title=39,599 doses of the vaccine against COVID-19 were applied to health professionals|url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/ya-se-aplicaron-39599-dosis-de-la-vacuna-contra-covid-19-al-personal-de-salud|publisher=Ministry of Health|date=6 January 2021|language=es}}

On 18 February 2021, vaccination on citizens aged over 70 began in the Province of Buenos Aires. Schools, among other sites, were used as temporary vaccination centres.{{cite news|title=Buenos Aires Province begins vaccinating those aged 70+|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/the-buenos-aires-province-begins-its-vaccination-programme-for-70-and-overs.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=18 February 2021}}

On 18 November 2021, health minister Vizzotti said that there was "sufficient stock" to vaccinate all the population with a booster dose. The campaign of the booster dose began in late October 2021, with people over the age of 70 and health personnel; and those above the age of 50 who completed their two doses with Sinopharm.{{cite news |title=Hay "stock suficiente" para dar la tercera dosis contra el Covid-19 a toda la población, dijo el Gobierno | trans-title=There is "enough stock" to give the third dose against Covid-19 to the entire population, the Government said |url=https://www.lavoz.com.ar/politica/hay-stock-suficiente-para-dar-la-tercera-dosis-contra-el-covid-19-a-toda-la-poblacion-dijo-el-gobierno/ |access-date=23 November 2021 |work=La Voz |date=23 November 2021 |language=es}}{{cite news |last1=Cannataro |first1=Micaela |title=Dosis de refuerzo en Argentina: en qué lugares me puedo poner la vacuna y cómo inscribirse |trans-title=Booster dose in Argentina: where can I get the vaccine and how to register|url=https://argentina.as.com/argentina/2021/11/18/actualidad/1637262891_136015.html |access-date=23 November 2021 |work=AS Argentina |date=18 November 2021|language=es}}

During the first weeks of the pandemic, people across the country used to applaud from balconies, terraces and windows of their houses and buildings at 9 pm, in order recognise the effort and work of health professionals, a demonstration similar to the ones that occurred during the pandemic in Spain and Italy.{{cite news|title=Con un emocionante aplauso, miles de personas agradecieron el trabajo de los médicos para combatir el coronavirus|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/03/20/con-un-emocionante-aplausazo-miles-de-personas-agradecieron-el-trabajo-de-los-medicos-para-combatir-el-coronavirus/|access-date=25 September 2020|work=Infobae|date=19 March 2020|language=es}}

Since late-May 2020, a few protestors began to rally in Buenos Aires to demand end of the lockdown, ignoring social distancing rules, and with the call to prioritise the re-opening of Argentina's economy and some conspiratorial overtones, due to the small and medium-size businesses and self-employed workers' economic struggle during this time. Despite the protests, a vast majority of Argentines were supportive of the lockdown, according to polls.{{cite news|title=Protesters rally in Buenos Aires to demand end of Covid-19 lockdown|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/protesters-rally-in-buenos-aires-to-demand-end-of-covid-19-lockdown.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=1 June 2020}} Other protests were realised against the government policies to combat the pandemic, corruption and insecurity, and against the bill to reform some elements of the judiciary, but the conspiracy theories about the virus were still present in the protests.{{cite news|title=Marcha del 17A: se sintió en todo el país el mayor banderazo contra el Gobierno desde que comenzó la cuarentena|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/marcha-17a-protestas-gobierno-obelisco-principales-ciudades-pais_0_rGaLFuylL.html|work=Clarín|date=17 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819142643/https://www.clarin.com/politica/marcha-17a-protestas-gobierno-obelisco-principales-ciudades-pais_0_rGaLFuylL.html|archive-date=19 August 2020|language=es}}{{cite news|last1=Molina|first1=Melisa|title=Anticuarentena: Una marcha anti-todo con consignas furibundas|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/285762-anticuarentena-una-marcha-anti-todo-con-consignas-furibundas|access-date=25 September 2020|work=Página/12|date=18 August 2020|language=es}}

File:Alberto Fernández y Ginés sobre coronavirus.jpg meeting with officials about COVID-19 in late January 2020.]]

The government's responses to the pandemic was very well seen, including the mandatory lockdown and strict social distancing measures, resulting in a general better look in the number of cases and deaths than other countries in the region.{{cite news |last1=Bremmer |first1=Ian |title=The Best Global Responses to COVID-19 Pandemic |url=https://time.com/5851633/best-global-responses-covid-19/ |access-date=13 June 2020 |magazine=Time |date=12 June 2020}} The measures also brought some concerns with the economic impact that it could cause to the country.{{cite news |last1=Mander |first1=Benedict |title=Pandemic throws Argentina debt strategy into disarray |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9a2dec1a-6bac-11ea-9bca-bf503995cd6f |access-date=5 April 2020 |work=Financial Times}} Even so, the way that president Fernández and its government handled the country's response to the spread of COVID-19 resulted in the best numbers of public approval since the president's assumption in December 2019.{{cite news |last1=Misculin |first1=Nicolás |title=Coronavirus bump: Argentina's Fernandez rises in polls over handling of COVID-19 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina-politics/coronavirus-bump-argentinas-fernandez-rises-in-polls-over-handling-of-covid-19-idUSKBN22J1PE |access-date=13 June 2020 |work=Reuters |date=7 May 2020}} Argentina was among the Latin American countries that earned the best grades for their response to the pandemic, according to a poll conducted in the region, only behind Uruguay and Paraguay.

On 11 March 2020, the government announced a mandatory 14-day-quarantine to every person that returned to Argentina from highly affected countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, the United States and all of Europe.

On 15 March 2020, it was announced that the government would close its borders for a total of 15 days to non-residents and national parks, and the suspension of public and private school classes in all levels and flights from highly affected countries for 30 days.

On 16 March 2020, the province of Tierra del Fuego was put on lockdown, becoming the first province to do so. The provinces of Chaco, Misiones, Salta, Jujuy, Mendoza and Tierra del Fuego also decided to close their borders on 18 March 2020.

File:Alberto fernandez presidente (cropped).jpg

On 19 March 2020, President Alberto Fernández announced a mandatory lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. It would take effect from 20 March 2020 until 31 March 2020. It was among the strictest measures in the region.

The "preventive and mandatory social isolation" included the following measures:{{cite news |title=Cuarentena total por el coronavirus desde la medianoche |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/254110-cuarentena-total-por-el-coronavirus-desde-la-medianoche |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=Página 12 |date=19 March 2020 |language=es}}

• Mandatory lockdown for all residents,
• The move of Malvinas Day from 2 April to 31 March 2020,
• Allowance of purchases of foods, medicines and first need products,
• Transit control on the streets by Naval Prefecture, National Gendarmerie and Federal Police,
• Penalties to those that cannot justify their transit on the streets according to the Penal Code,
• Exception of the lockdown to state, health, food production, drugs production and oil industry workers and security forces,
• Creation of a government department that works on the pandemic and economic issues, and
• Guidelines to relieve the situation for non-formal sector.

On 29 March 2020, Fernández announced that the mandatory lockdown would be extended until 12 April 2020.

The announcement of the lockdown was generally well received, although there were concerns with its economic impact in the already delicate state of Argentina's economy, with analysts predicting at least 3% GDP decrease in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Rapoza |first1=Kenneth |title=Argentina Goes Under Quarantine As Debt Deal Now An Afterthought |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2020/03/23/argentina-goes-under-quarantine-as-debt-deal-now-an-afterthought/ |access-date=5 April 2020 |work=Forbes }} Image of Fernández increased during the first weeks of the lockdown according to some surveys,{{cite news |title=Una encuesta muestra que el 80% de los argentinos está a favor de la extensión de la cuarentena |url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/politica/coronavirus-encuesta-80-por-ciento-a-favor-extension-cuarentena-obligatoria-alberto-fernandez.phtml |work=Perfil |date=31 March 2020 |language=es}} but later suffered a slightly decrease in April 2020 due to the prolongation of the lockdown.{{cite news |title=ENCUESTA ROUVIER Y ASOCIADOS: ¿LOS ARGENTINOS ESTÁN PREPARADOS PARA UNA NUEVA EXTENSIÓN DE LA CUARENTENA? |url=https://www.grupolaprovincia.com/argentina/encuesta-rouvier-y-asociados-los-argentinos-estan-preparados-para-una-nueva-extension-de-la-cuarentena-491359 |work=GrupoLaProvincia.com |date=8 May 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Encuesta reveló que disminuyó la preocupación de los argentinos frente al coronavirus |url=https://marcelolongobardi.cienradios.com/encuesta-revelo-que-disminuyo-la-preocupacion-de-los-argentinos-frente-al-coronavirus/ |work=Marcelo Longobardi |date=27 April 2020 |language=es |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309022317/https://marcelolongobardi.cienradios.com/encuesta-revelo-que-disminuyo-la-preocupacion-de-los-argentinos-frente-al-coronavirus/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Encuesta revela "fastidio" con la cuarentena que erosiona imagen de Alberto Fernández |url=https://www.cronista.com/economiapolitica/Encuesta-revela-fastidio-con-la-cuarentena-que-erosiona-imagen-de-Alberto-Fernandez-20200419-0006.html |work=El Cronista |date=19 April 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |last1=Paladini |first1=Eduardo |title=Cae la imagen de Alberto Fernández: demasiada cuarentena, rechazo a los presos y efecto Cristina |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/cae-imagen-alberto-fernandez-demasiada-cuarentena-rechazo-presos-efecto-cristina_0_syC45JPK6.html |access-date=17 May 2020 |work=Clarín |date=5 May 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Según encuestas, cambia el humor social respecto de la opción "salud o economía" |url=https://www.cronista.com/economiapolitica/Segun-encuestas-cambia-el-humor-social-respecto-de-la-opcion-salud-o-economia-20200503-0012.html |work=El Cronista |date=3 May 2020 |language=es}} The University of Buenos Aires also made a survey, in which most people agreed to the measures taken by the president.{{cite news |title=Una encuesta muestra un alto respaldo a la cuarentena y a las medidas del Gobierno |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/265390-una-encuesta-muestra-un-alto-respaldo-a-la-cuarentena-y-a-la |work=Página 12 |date=13 May 2020 |language=es}}

Fernández announced a one-time emergency payment of 10,000 pesos (US$154) to lower-income individuals whose income was affected by the lockdown, including retirees.{{cite news |last1=Sigal |first1=Lucila |title=Argentina offers spot payments to coronavirus-hit low income workers |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-argentina-economy/argentina-offers-spot-payments-to-coronavirus-hit-low-income-workers-idUSL1N2BG2LQ |access-date=5 April 2020 |work=Reuters |date=23 March 2020 }} Because banks were excluded in the list of businesses that were considered essential in Fernandez's lockdown decree, they remained closed until the Central Bank announced banks would open during a weekend starting on 3 April 2020.{{cite news |title=En medio de la cuarentena total, hoy abren los bancos: quiénes pueden ir y cómo van a funcionar |url=https://www.infobae.com/economia/2020/04/02/en-medio-de-la-cuarentena-total-manana-abren-los-bancos-quienes-pueden-ir-hasta-cuando-abren-y-como-van-a-funcionar/ |access-date=5 April 2020 |work=Infobae |language=es-AR}}

On 10 April 2020, Fernández confirmed that the lockdown would be extended until 26 April 2020 under a "new phase" with new authorisations available for workers of some services such as banks, among others.

The third phase of the lockdown was announced on 25 April 2020 by president Fernández. The lockdown would resume to workers of private construction, medical and dental care, industry production and online commerce, lawyers, and accountants, among others, in some provinces such as Entre Ríos, Jujuy, La Pampa, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquén, Salta, San Juan, Santa Cruz and Tucumán, with the respective health protocols.{{cite news |title=Cuáles son las actividades permitidas en las nueve provincias que flexibilizan la cuarentena |url=https://www.ambito.com/politica/cuarentena/cuales-son-las-actividades-permitidas-las-nueve-provincias-que-flexibilizan-la-cuarentena-n5097954 |access-date=25 April 2020 |work=Ámbito Financiero |date=24 April 2020 |language=es}} Cities with population over 500,000 inhabitants are still under mandatory lockdown due to the community transmission of the virus.

On 8 May 2020, President Fernández announced alongside the City of Buenos Aires' Chief of Government Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof, that the national lockdown would enter its fourth phase throughout all the country (with the exception of the Greater Buenos Aires urban area), allowing the reopening of factories and business. The Greater Buenos Aires zone will maintain the geographical segmentation phase due to the number of cases that are still being registered in the area, but will allow children to go outside accompanied by an adult.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: mantienen sin cambios la cuarentena en la Capital Federal y en la provincia de Buenos Aires |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/coronavirus-argentina-cuarentena-continuara-24-mayo_0_i0VSnhsUZ.html |work=Clarín |date=8 May 2020 |language=es}} The lockdown in the Greater Buenos Aires was later extended until 7 June 2020 after the number of cases in this area in the previous days showed a big increase.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: las estadísticas que mostró Alberto Fernández para justificar la extensión de la cuarentena |url=https://www.infobae.com/coronavirus/2020/05/24/coronavirus-en-argentina-las-estadisticas-que-mostro-alberto-fernandez-para-justificar-la-extension-de-la-cuarentena/ |work=Infobae |date=23 May 2020 |language=es}} Later, on 4 June 2020, the lockdown was extended again until 28 June 2020 in the Greater Buenos Aires area after the country just surpassed 20,000 cases.{{cite news |title=Argentina extends lockdown in Buenos Aires until June 28 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina/argentina-extends-lockdown-in-buenos-aires-until-june-28-idUSKBN23B3II?il=0 |work=Reuters |date=4 June 2020}} New activities allowed in the area included opening of shops in "low concentration" areas, outdoor walks with children on the weekends, outdoor physical activities from 8 p.m. to 8 am, and religious services by streaming, among other measures taken by each municipality.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: todos los detalles de las actividades que se habilitarán en el Área Metropolitana |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/06/05/coronavirus-en-argentina-todos-los-detalles-de-las-actividades-que-se-habilitaran-en-el-area-metropolitana/ |work=Infobae |date=4 June 2020 |language=es}}

A survey realised during the first days of May 2020, expresses that the main concern of the surveyed people was the fear of virus contagion (50.9%) instead of the worries of a worsening in the economic situation (49.1%).{{cite news |last1=Paladini |first1=Eduardo |title=Encuesta nacional: el coronavirus generó una nueva "grieta del miedo" entre los argentinos |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/encuesta-nacional-coronavirus-genero-nueva-grieta-miedo-argentinos_0_p7eJLn24Z.html |access-date=31 May 2020 |work=Clarín |date=10 May 2020 |language=es}} Also, another survey expressed that 3 out of 10 Argentines believe the World Health Organization reports about the COVID-19 origins.{{cite news |last1=Mercado |first1=Silvia |title=Solo tres de cada diez argentinos creen lo que dice la OMS sobre el origen del virus |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/05/26/solo-tres-de-cada-diez-argentinos-creen-lo-que-dice-la-oms-sobre-el-origen-del-virus/ |access-date=31 May 2020 |work=Infobae |date=26 May 2020 |language=es}}

File:Argentina - Pte Fernández - Coronavirus -17JUL2020-jpg.jpg (Chaco), Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta (City of Buenos Aires), Governor Arabela Carreras (Río Negro), President Fernández and Governors Gerardo Morales (Jujuy) and Axel Kicillof (Province of Buenos Aires).]]

President Fernández announced on 26 June 2020 that the restrictions on movement in Buenos Aires that were previously eased, would be tightened again since 1 July 2020 due to a spike in COVID-19 cases on Greater Buenos Aires. This phase of the lockdown would be extended until 17 July 2020.{{cite news |last1=Jourdan |first1=Adam |last2=Misculin |first2=Nicolás |last3=Raszewski |first3=Eliana |last4=Heath |first4=Maximilian |title=Argentina tightens Buenos Aires lockdown as coronavirus cases surge |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina/argentina-tightens-buenos-aires-lockdown-as-coronavirus-cases-surge-idUSKBN23X2QB |work=Reuters |date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626212833/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina/argentina-tightens-buenos-aires-lockdown-as-coronavirus-cases-surge-idUSKBN23X2QB |archive-date=26 June 2020}} According to Fernández, this urban area saw an increase of 147% of COVID-19 cases, and an increase of 95% on deaths due to the disease during the previous 20 days of the announcement. Fernández also confirmed that 97% of detected cases across the country occur in the Greater Buenos Aires.{{cite news |title=Alberto Fernández anunció una cuarentena estricta entre el 1 y el 17 de julio para el área metropolitana: "Tenemos que aislar el AMBA del resto del país" |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/06/26/alberto-fernandez-si-no-hubieramos-hecho-lo-que-hicimos-tendriamos-el-sistema-de-salud-colapsado/ |work=Infobae |date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626214419/https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/06/26/alberto-fernandez-si-no-hubieramos-hecho-lo-que-hicimos-tendriamos-el-sistema-de-salud-colapsado/ |archive-date=26 June 2020 |language=es}} New restrictions include: public transportation allowed only for essential workers, prohibition of outdoor activities and stronger transit control on the streets. Allowance of purchases of foods, medicines and first need products would be the only activity allowed without any permission.{{cite news |title=Cuáles serán las nuevas restricciones: qué se puede hacer y qué no en la próxima etapa de la cuarentena en el AMBA |url=https://www.infobae.com/coronavirus/2020/06/26/cuales-seran-las-nuevas-restricciones-que-se-puede-hacer-y-que-no-en-la-proxima-etapa-de-la-cuarentena-en-el-amba/ |access-date=26 June 2020 |work=Infobae |date=26 June 2020 |language=es}}

After the end of the previous phase of the lockdown in Greater Buenos Aires, President Fernández finally announced on 17 July 2020 that the lockdown would be gradually loosened in several stages to lead to the return to normality. New activities allowed include individual outdoor recreation activities, opening of local shops, car washers, clothing and footwear stores, hairdressing, waxing, manicure and pedicure shops in all neighbourhoods, return of administrative staff to schools, individual prayers in temples (with no more than 10 people on the site), return of dog walkers, opening of libraries (without staying in the place), and return of professional activities, such as lawyers and accountants, at least once a week.{{cite news |last1=Giambartolomei |first1=Mauricio |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina. Cómo será la apertura gradual en la Ciudad y qué se podrá hacer desde el lunes |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/coronavirus-argentina-que-se-podra-hacer-semana-nid2398542 |access-date=17 July 2020 |work=La Nación |date=17 July 2020 |language=es}} Public transportation would still be only allowed for workers in essential areas such as healthcare, security, gastronomy and others.{{cite news |title=Cuarentena escalonada: el listado de las medidas anunciadas en AMBA, CABA y GBA |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/coronavirus-argentina-punto-punto-medidas-anunciadas-alberto-nid2399090 |work=La Nación |date=17 July 2020 |language=es}}

As the lockdown was due to expire on 2 August 2020, Fernández announced in a press conference on 31 July that the restrictions would continue until 16 August at least, after the country recorded a record daily tally of new cases and deaths on the previous day of the announcement. A few days later, the government decided to ban social gatherings across the country for 15 days amid surge of infections and fatalities.{{cite news |title=Government bans social gatherings in Argentina for next 15 days |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/government-bans-all-social-gatherings-for-next-15-days.phtml |access-date=6 August 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=2 August 2020}} The lockdown was again extended after 147 days (on 14 August 2020), for two more weeks until 30 August.{{cite news |title=Después de 147 días, el Presidente volvió a extender la cuarentena hasta el 30 de agosto |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/08/14/despues-de-147-dias-el-presidente-volvio-a-extender-la-cuarentena-hasta-el-30-de-agosto/ |access-date=14 August 2020 |work=Infobae |date=14 August 2020 |language=es}} Several cities that experienced a big growth in the number of confirmed cases in the previous weeks were put back into a tighter lockdown. The cities of Tartagal, La Rioja, Chamical, Santiago del Estero and La Banda were expected to join the places that were already with a strict lockdown such as Greater Buenos Aires, Jujuy (Libertador Gral. San Martín, Manuel Belgrano, El Carmen and San Pedro), Santa Cruz (Río Gallegos) and Tierra del Fuego (Río Grande).{{cite news |title=Cuáles son las cinco ciudades que volverán a una cuarentena estricta a partir del lunes |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/08/14/cuales-son-las-cinco-ciudades-que-volveran-a-una-cuarentena-estricta-a-partir-del-lunes/ |access-date=14 August 2020 |work=Infobae |date=14 August 2020 |language=es}}

On 28 August 2020 it was announced that the eased lockdown would be extended again until 20 September 2020. Also, meetings of up to ten people in the open air, maintaining two meters of distance and using a face mask were authorised throughout the country. As the lockdown was due to expire on 20 September 2020, two days earlier President Fernández confirmed another extension of the lockdown for three weeks until 11 October 2020. Local authorities are still in charge of applying new restrictions in each territory.

After three weeks, Fernández announced that due to the epidemiological situation in the weeks prior to 9 October 2020, the lockdown would continue until 25 October with new measures to decrease circulation in 18 provinces.{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: Alberto Fernández anunció que instrumentarán medidas para restringir la circulación en ciudades de 18 provincias|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/coronavirus-alberto-fernandez-anuncia-extension-cuarentena-nid2474877|work=La Nación|date=9 October 2020|language=es}} In Buenos Aires new activities such as the gradual return to face-to-face classes, habilitation of domestic service, cultural events, construction and other social and commercial authorisations were announced by Mayor Rodríguez Larreta on the same day.{{cite news|last1=Giambartolomei|first1=Mauricio|title=Coronavirus en la Argentina. Habilitan nuevas actividades, pero los shoppings no abren|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/buenos-aires/nueva-apertura-ciudad-covid-nid2474707|access-date=10 October 2020|work=La Nación|date=9 October 2020|language=es}}

As the country surpassed the million cases on 19 October 2020, President Fernández announced four days later that the lockdown would be extended again for two weeks in the provinces of Chubut, Córdoba, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Luis, Santa Fe and Tucumán, and in Greater Buenos Aires, as these provinces have been accounting for 55 per cent of the country's total cases in the previous weeks.{{cite news|title=Alberto Fernández sobre la nueva fase de la cuarentena: "Vamos a concentrar los esfuerzos en las ocho provincias que concentran el 55 por ciento de los contagios"|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/301182-alberto-fernandez-sobre-la-nueva-fase-de-la-cuarentena-vamos|access-date=24 October 2020|work=Página/12|date=23 October 2020|language=es}} In Greater Buenos Aires the gradual opening of activities would continue in cities with a decrease in the number of daily cases. Openings in internal areas in bars and restaurants, gyms, artisan fairs, public pools, museums and schools were confirmed to apply in Buenos Aires.{{cite news|title=Qué actividades se habilitan desde este lunes en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/301257-que-actividades-se-habilitan-desde-este-lunes-en-la-ciudad-d|access-date=24 October 2020|work=Página/12|date=23 October 2020|language=es}}

On 6 November 2020, Fernández announced that the lockdown would come to an end in Greater Buenos Aires to move to the social distancing phase, although it could continue in other provinces until 29 November 2020. This was due to a decrease in the number of cases after eight weeks.{{cite news|title=El AMBA pasa a la fase de Distanciamiento Social|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202011/532854-nueva-fase-cuidados-coronavirus-mensaje-alberto-fernandez-olivos.html|agency=Télam|date=6 November 2020|language=es}} Gradual openings would begin to be implemented to all educational levels, restaurants and bars with indoor services and private construction, and outdoor social gatherings would be allowed.{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: qué actividades quedarán habilitadas en la próxima etapa en CABA y en la provincia de Buenos Aires|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/11/06/coronavirus-que-actividades-quedaran-habilitadas-en-la-proxima-etapa-en-caba-y-en-la-provincia-de-buenos-aires/|work=Infobae|date=6 November 2020|language=es}}

A restriction to nighttime activities was applied on 11 January 2021 after a rise of the number of COVID-19 cases in the previous weeks.{{cite news|last1=Otaola|first1=Jorge|last2=Nessi|first2=Hernán|last3=Bronstein|first3=Hugh|title=Argentina moves to restrict nighttime activities as COVID-19 surges|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN29D2MO|work=Reuters|date=8 January 2021}} The curfew would run daily from 1 to 6 a.m., being intended to reduce the circulation of the virus. The shutting down of clandestine parties attended by young people are also encouraged, which experts believe is a key factor behind the recent surge in cases. Not every province applied the curfew, like Córdoba and Jujuy.{{cite news|title=La normativa que implementará cada una de las provincias|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202101/541011-restricciones-circulacion-provincias.html|agency=Télam|date=8 January 2021|language=es}} The City of Buenos Aires closed all commercial business between 1 and 6 a.m. beginning 10 January 2021, but without restrictions on circulation unlike the rest of the provinces.{{cite news|title=Ciudad cerrará locales comerciales entre la 1 y las 6 de la mañana|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202101/541017-caba-amba-nuevos-casos-coronavirus-restricciones.html|agency=Télam|date=8 January 2021|language=es}}

On 30 January 2021, social distancing was extended until 1 March 2021, with the decree altered to allow for return of face-to-face classes at schools nationwide since February.{{cite news|title=No change except classes: Social distancing to be extended until March 1|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/no-change-except-classes-social-distancing-to-be-extended-until-march-1.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=30 January 2021}}

The government announced on 14 April 2021 that from the following day new restrictions would apply to Greater Buenos Aires for two weeks after a rise in the number of daily cases and ICU bed occupation. Measures included the close of schools, curfew between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. and the suspension of indoor sports, recreational, religious and cultural activities.{{cite news|last=Raszewski|first=Eliana|title=Argentina closes schools, imposes curfew in Buenos Aires as COVID-19 cases spike|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2C201V|work=Reuters|date=15 April 2021}}

A month later, a nine-day nationwide lockdown was announced after the number of daily cases continued to rise. It took place from 22 to 31 May 2021, with only essential businesses opened, classes suspended and restaurants only open for home delivery and pick-up services. Also, citizens were only allowed to circulate between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., with social, economic, religious and sporting activities banned.{{cite news|title=Argentina enters strict nine-day lockdown as Covid cases soar|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-enters-strict-nine-day-lockdown-as-covid-cases-soar.phtml|access-date=24 May 2021|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=22 May 2021}}

In October 2021, after the number of infections considerably decreased and having reached the mark of more than 70% of the population vaccinated, some regions, especially Buenos Aires lifted the face mask mandate when outdoors. The order was signed by the Mayor of Buenos Aires Horacio Rodríguez Larreta.{{cite news |title=Buenos Aires announces end of mandatory outdoor masks |url=https://then24.com/2021/10/19/buenos-aires-announces-end-of-mandatory-outdoor-masks/ |access-date=22 October 2021 |agency=The News 24 |date=19 October 2021}} Many other provinces and cities followed suit, with only being the face mask mandate being obligatory when indoors.{{cite news |title=Ya no es obligatorio el barbijo al aire libre: los porteños, entre la alegría y la desconfianza|trans-title=The face mask in the open air is no longer mandatory: the porteños, between joy and mistrust |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202110/572147-rodriguez-larreta-nuevas-medidas-sanitarias-ciudad-buenos-aires.html |access-date=22 October 2021 |agency=Télam |date=20 October 2021}}

File:Tecnopolis se convertira en el centro sanitario mas grande del pais (49838833041).jpg built in Tecnópolis, Villa Martelli.]]

On 23 March 2020, Argentina's President Fernández asked the president of China, Xi Jinping, for 1,500 ventilators as Argentina had only 8,890 available.{{cite news|last1=Ruiz|first1=Iván|last2=Arambillet|first2=Delfina|title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: pocas donaciones, muchas compras y el inicio de un malestar con China|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/pocas-donaciones-muchas-compras-malestar-china-nid2357966|work=La Nación|date=24 April 2020|language=es}}{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: el Gobierno le pide ayuda a China para conseguir más respiradores|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/coronavirus-gobierno-le-pide-ayuda-china-conseguir-nid2346504|work=La Nación|date=23 March 2020|language=es}} Previously, President Fernández announced the construction of eight emergency hospitals to deal with the pandemic on mid-March 2020.{{cite news|title=Alberto Fernández prometió construir ocho hospitales de emergencia para afrontar el coronavirus|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/03/18/alberto-fernandez-prometio-construir-ocho-hospitales-de-emergencia-para-afrontar-el-coronavirus/|access-date=31 July 2020|work=Infobae|date=18 March 2020|language=es}} 2,452 non-hospital beds were made available to patients in the final stage of recovering from the disease from hospitals in the province of Buenos Aires.{{cite news|last1=Calderaro|first1=Romina|title=Coronavirus: así se prepara Tecnópolis para atender a pacientes infectados|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/259369-coronavirus-asi-se-prepara-tecnopolis-para-atender-a-pacient|access-date=31 July 2020|work=Página/12|date=14 April 2020|language=es}}

During the pandemic, more than 400 health professionals were infected, making the 15 per cent of the total confirmed cases as of 19 April 2020. According to the Argentinian Intensive Care Society, there are only 1,350 physicians trained for that speciality. Later the Ministry of Health summoned different health professionals, making that number rise over 3,122. The province of Chaco had the worst rate of health professionals infected, with the 52 per cent of the total cases of that jurisdiction in April 2020.{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Hugo|title=Coronavirus en Argentina: ya son 431 los profesionales de la salud infectados|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/04/19/coronavirus-en-argentina-ya-son-431-los-profesionales-de-la-salud-infectados/|work=Infobae|date=19 April 2020|language=es}}

Argentina's health system was also dealing with a Dengue fever outbreak, with more than 14,000 cases since 29 July 2019,{{cite news|title=Dengue: con más de 43.400 casos, Argentina "está lejos de la peor epidemia de su historia"|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202004/455358-dengue-epidemia-ministerio-de-salud.html|agency=Télam|date=23 April 2020|language=es}} and the worse measles outbreak since the end of its endemic circulation, after 174 cases and a death were confirmed since 2019.{{cite news|title=Sarampión: continúa el brote más extenso desde la eliminación de la circulación endémica|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202006/471372-sarampion-continua-el-brote-mas-extenso-desde-la-eliminacion-de-la-circulacion-endemica.html|agency=Télam|date=2 June 2020|language=es}}

Until 18 July 2020, there were 181,043 confirmed cases of influenza (down 64.4% versus the same period in 2019), 26,323 cases of pneumonia, 24,643 cases of bronchiolitis in children under 2 years (down 84% versus the same period in 2019), and 9,495 cases of severe acute respiratory infections. Regarding the circulation of respiratory viruses, adenovirus, parainfluenza, influenza B and influenza A predominated as of that date. Also, eight deaths from influenza were registered through that date, from which three of them also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.{{cite web|title=Boletín integrado de vigilancia N507 SE31|trans-title=Integrated Surveillance Bulletin N507 W31|url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/sites/default/files/biv_507_se_31.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Health|language=es|date=24 August 2020}}

{{further|Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 recession}}

Due to the national lockdown, the economical activity suffered a collapse of nearly 10% in March 2020 according to a consultant firm. The highest drop was of the construction sector (32%) versus March 2019. Every economical sector suffered a collapse, with finance, commerce, manufacturing industry and mining being the most affected. The agriculture sector was the least affected, but overall the economic activity for the first trimester of 2020 accumulates a 5% contraction. It was expected that the extension of the lockdown beyond April 2020 would increase the collapse of the Argentinian economy.{{cite news |title=Por la cuarentena, la actividad se derrumbó casi 10% en marzo según Ferreres |url=https://www.ambito.com/economia/comercio/por-la-cuarentena-la-actividad-se-derrumbo-casi-10-marzo-segun-ferreres-n5098172 |access-date=25 April 2020 |work=Ámbito Financiero |date=24 April 2020 |language=es}} In March 2020, the primary fiscal deficit jumped to US$1,394 million, an 857% increase year-to-year. This was due to the public spending to combat the pandemic and the drop in tax collection due to low activity in a context of social isolation.{{cite news |title=El déficit fiscal primario trepó 857% en marzo por paquete "anticoronavirus" y caída en la actividad |url=https://www.ambito.com/economia/deficit/el-deficit-fiscal-primario-trepo-857-marzo-paquete-anticoronavirus-y-caida-la-actividad-n5097020 |work=Ámbito Financiero |date=20 April 2020 |language=es}} In June 2020, industrial production fell 6.6% versus June 2019. This was better than the forecast announced by analysts and a smaller drop than in the previous months since the beginning of the pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Iorio |first1=Jorge |last2=Otaola |first2=Jorge |title=Argentine industrial output falls 6.6% in June, less than feared |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-argentina-economy-industrialoutput/argentine-industrial-output-falls-6-6-in-june-less-than-feared-idUSKCN2512Z6 |access-date=7 August 2020 |work=Reuters |date=5 August 2020 }}

President Fernández announced a 700 billion pesos (US$11.1 billion) stimulus package due to the pandemic, worth 2% of the country's GDP, and have focused on providing increased health spending, including for improvements in virus diagnostics, purchases of hospital equipment and construction of clinics and hospitals; support for workers and vulnerable groups, including through increased transfers to poor families, social security benefits (especially to low-income beneficiaries), unemployment insurance benefits, and payments to minimum-wage workers; support for hard-hit sectors, including an exemption from social security contributions, grants to cover payroll costs; and subsidised loans for construction-related activities; forbearance, including continued provision of utility services for households in arrears; and credit guarantees for bank lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the production of foods and basic supplies.{{cite news |title=POLICY RESPONSES TO COVID-19 |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19#A |publisher=International Monetary Fund |date=12 June 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Meakin |first1=Lucy |title=Cash and Low Rates: How G-20 Policy-Makers Are Stepping Up |url=https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/cash-and-low-rates-how-g-20-policy-makers-are-stepping-up |access-date=5 April 2020 |work=National Post |date=20 March 2020 }}{{cite news |last1=Newbery |first1=Charles |title=Argentina unveils $11 bln stimulus package |url=https://www.latinfinance.com/daily-briefs/2020/3/19/argentina-unveils-11-bln-stimulus-package |access-date=5 April 2020 |work=LatinFinance }} The country would also have to face its ninth sovereign default in history due to the recession.{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2020/04/22/covid-19-and-debt-argentinas-make-or-break-moment|title=Covid-19 and debt: Argentina's make-or-break moment|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=23 April 2020|issn=0013-0613}}

Measures also have been aimed at encouraging bank lending through lower reserve requirements on bank lending to households and SMEs, regulations that limit banks' holdings of central bank paper to provide space for SME lending, temporary easing of bank provisioning needs and of bank loan classification rules, and a stay on both bank account closures due to bounced checks and credit denial to companies with payroll tax arrears.

According to a survey, approximately 143,000 SMEs were not able to pay salaries and fixed costs, even with government assistance, so they might had to borrow or increase their own capital contribution. 35,000 of these companies were considering to close their business.{{cite news |last1=Diamante |first1=Sofía |title=Coronavirus. Hay 35.000 pymes que están considerando cerrar su negocio |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/coronavirus-hay-35000-pymes-que-estan-considerando-cerrar-su-negocio-nid2352242 |access-date=16 May 2020 |work=La Nación |date=8 April 2020 |language=es}}

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that the COVID-19 crisis would plunge Argentina's GDP by 9.9 per cent, after the country's economy contracted by 5.4 per cent in first quarter of 2020, with unemployment rising over 10.4 per cent in the first three months of the year, before the lockdown started.{{cite news |title=IMF predicts Argentina's economy will slump 9.9% in 2020 |url=https://batimes.com.ar/news/economy/imf-predicts-argentinas-economy-will-slump-99-in-2020.phtml |access-date=26 June 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=25 June 2020}}{{cite news |title=INDEC: Economy contracted by 5.4% in first quarter of 2020 |url=https://batimes.com.ar/news/economy/indec-economy-contracted-by-54-in-first-quarter-of-2020.phtml |access-date=26 June 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=23 June 2020}}{{cite news |title=IMF predicts deeper global recession due to coronavirus pandemic |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-imf-outlook/imf-predicts-deeper-global-recession-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic-idUSKBN23V1X8 |access-date=26 June 2020 |work=Reuters |date=24 June 2020}} Other reports also indicate that the economy might shrink between 10% and 12% during 2020.

Argentina's economy contracted a record 19.1% in the second quarter of 2020 versus the same period of 2019 as the pandemic reduced production and demand, though was slightly better than analyst forecasts.{{Cite journal|date=September 2020|title=Informe de avance del nivel de actividad – Segundo trimestre de 2020|trans-title=Activity Level Report – Second Quarter 2020|url=https://www.indec.gob.ar/uploads/informesdeprensa/pib_09_203A30C37E8E.pdf|journal=Informes técnicos|language=es-AR|publisher=National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina|volume=4|issue=172|issn=2545-6636}}{{Cite web|last=Gillespie|first=Patrick|date=22 September 2020|title=Argentina's Economy Slumps 16.2%, Narrowly Beating Forecasts|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-22/argentina-s-economy-slumps-16-2-narrowly-beating-forecasts|access-date=25 September 2020|website=Bloomberg News}} The previous record was held during the 1998–2002 Argentine great depression, with a 16.3% drop in 2002.{{cite news|last1=Nessi|first1=Hernán|last2=Iorio|first2=Jorge|title=Argentina economy plunges record 19.1% in second quarter on pandemic impact|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN26E06W|access-date=25 September 2020|work=Reuters|date=22 September 2020}} The unemployment rate during the second quarter of 2020 jumped to 13.1%, up from the 10.6% rate that was held in the same period in 2019,{{cite news|title=Argentina unemployment rate hit 13.1% in second quarter – stats agency|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL2N2GK1VA|access-date=25 September 2020|work=Reuters|date=23 September 2020}} reaching up to 26% in Mar del Plata, a tourism-centered city.{{Cite web|date=23 September 2020|title=Unemployment in Argentina rises to 16-year high of 13.1%|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/economy/unemployment-in-argentina-rises-to-16-year-high-of-131.phtml|access-date=25 September 2020|website=Buenos Aires Times}} It was the highest unemployment rate since 2004.{{cite news|last1=Iorio|first1=Jorge|title=Argentina jobless rate hits 16-year high amid pandemic, lockdown|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN26E3CG|access-date=25 September 2020|work=Reuters|date=23 September 2020}}

After the reopening of June 2021, the economy in Argentina expanded more than expected, growing 10.8 percent in June compared versus 2020 after activity declined during April–May 2021.{{cite news|title=Argentina's economy rebounded more than expected in reopening|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/economy/argentinas-economy-rebounded-more-than-expected-in-reopening.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=20 August 2021}}

After announced a mandatory quarantine to every person that returned to Argentina from highly affected countries, the government closed its borders, ports, and suspended flights.{{cite news |title=El Gobierno cierra fronteras, aeropuertos y puertos por el coronavirus: la veda alcanza a los argentinos |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/gobierno-cierra-todas-fronteras-medianoche-coronavirus_0_7DZ19qq1c.html |work=Clarín |date=26 March 2020 |language=es}} The Argentina 2000 airports signed an agreement with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to reimburse 100% of the charges originated by the air cargo that enters the country that are directly or indirectly related to the COVID-19.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 bonificará los costos de la importación de insumos para investigar al COVID-19 |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/coronavirus-aeropuertos-argentina-2000-bonificara-costos-importacion-insumos-investigar-covid-19_0_020EWwVpU.html |work=Clarín |date=7 April 2020 |language=es}}

File:TerminaldeOmnibusTandilHallCentral-COVID2019-1.jpg in late March 2020.]]

Since 1 April 2020, the government allowed the return of Argentine residents stranded abroad, with a maximum of 700 passengers per day. Seven border crossings opened temporarily to allow the repatriation of Argentina's inhabitants.{{cite news |last1=Niebieskikwiat |first1=Natasha |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: El Gobierno permite la repatriación de hasta 700 argentinos por día y evalúa nuevos vuelos sanitarios |url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/coronavirus-argentina-gobierno-permite-repatriacion-700-argentinos-dia-evalua-nuevos-vuelos-sanitarios_0_DHB6InZy7.html |access-date=1 April 2020 |work=Clarín |language=es}} Hotels for local tourism closed too, being only open to people staying in a situation of lockdown though the time it lasts. Several tourism-related cities also saw a massive migration from Argentine residents after the announcement of the national lockdown. It was severely criticised by the government.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: cierran los hoteles para el turismo local hasta el 31 de marzo |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/coronavirus-cierran-hoteles-turismo-local-31-marzo-nid2344457 |work=La Nación |date=17 March 2020 |language=es}}

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Argentina was expected to loosen its travel ban earlier than the date that was previously announced by the government (1 September 2020).{{cite news |last1=Garrison |first1=Cassandra |last2=Rochabrun |first2=Marcelo |title=Argentina could loosen coronavirus travel ban early, says airline trade group |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-argentina-flights/argentina-could-loosen-coronavirus-travel-ban-early-says-airline-trade-group-idUSL1N2CX1DH |access-date=17 May 2020 |work=Reuters |date=15 May 2020}} Later, it was announced that the government was planning to authorise foreign flights with a maximum passenger capacity of 70%, as soon as mid-August 2020.{{cite news |title=Argentina plans to resume foreign flights as soon as mid-August |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/economy/argentina-plans-to-resume-foreign-flights-as-soon-as-mid-august.phtml |access-date=12 June 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=10 June 2020}} By September 2020, government announced regular flights could return on the next month.{{Cite news|date=8 September 2020|title=Transport minister says 'return of regular flights' may begin on October 1|work=Buenos Aires Times|url=https://batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/meoni-announced-possible-return-of-regular-flights-on-october-1.phtml|access-date=27 September 2020}} Following this travel ban, one of the most strict in the world,{{Cite news|title=Argentina could restart international flights in October, source says|url=https://www.jpost.com/international/argentina-could-restart-international-flights-in-october-source-says-641093|access-date=9 September 2020|website=The Jerusalem Post}} airline LATAM Argentina closed definitely on 17 June 2020,{{Cite web|last=Gillespie|first=Patrick|date=27 July 2020|title=Companies Flee Argentina, and Coronavirus Is Just One Reason|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-27/companies-are-leaving-argentina-and-it-s-not-pandemic-s-fault|access-date=20 September 2020|work=Bloomberg News}}{{cite news|last=Cabot|first=Diego|date=17 June 2020|title=Latam Argentina anunció que deja de operar en el país|trans-title=Latam Argentina announces that will stop operating in the country|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/nota-manana-nid2381063|work=La Nación|language=es}}{{Cite news|title=Argentina's economic woes send companies fleeing|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/13c2072a-2ca4-4c3e-aa3d-d2d94473466f|url-access=subscription}} due to "the conditions of the local industry, aggravated by the pandemic".{{cite news|last1=Lewkowicz|first1=Javier|title=Latam deja de volar dentro del país|trans-title=Latam stops flying within the country|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/272875-latam-deja-de-volar-dentro-del-pais|access-date=27 September 2020|work=Página/12|date=18 June 2020|language=es}}

During the last week of July 2020, flag carrier airline Aerolíneas Argentinas sold over 188 thousand tickets, with the company reporting that 54 per cent of passengers bought their tickets to travel from December 2020 to March 2021, while another 27 per cent did so to travel between September and November 2020.{{cite news |title=Aerolíneas Argentinas vendió más de 188 mil pasajes durante la última semana |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/497901-aerolineas-argentinas-vendio-mas-de-188-mil-pasajes-durante-la-ultima-semana.html |access-date=6 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=3 August 2020 |language=es}}

On 22 September 2020, low-cost carriers such as Flybondi, JetSmart Argentina, and legacy airline Aerolíneas Argentinas confirmed that they had moved the dates of their flights with 12 October as the expected restart date, while the Ministry of Transport assured that regular domestic flights would resume in November 2020.{{cite news|last1=Casas|first1=Ximena|title=Sin anuncio oficial sobre el regreso de los vuelos, las aerolíneas postergaron su cronograma para el 12 de octubre|url=https://www.infobae.com/economia/2020/09/22/sin-anuncio-oficial-sobre-el-regreso-de-los-vuelos-las-aerolineas-postergaron-su-cronogramas-para-el-12-de-octubre/|access-date=25 September 2020|work=Infobae|date=22 September 2020|language=es}} Two days later, it was announced that American Airlines would resume its daily flights to Miami since 7 October 2020, on a special flights schedule including two weekly flights to Madrid and Santiago de Chile, three flights a month to New York City, four weekly flights to São Paulo, and flights to Lima (three per month) and Asunción (two per month).{{cite news |title=Durante octubre, American Airlines tendrá vuelos diarios entre Buenos Aires y Miami |url=https://www.infobae.com/economia/2020/09/24/durante-octubre-american-airlines-tendra-vuelos-diarios-entre-buenos-aires-y-miami/ |access-date=25 September 2020 |work=Infobae |date=24 September 2020 |language=es}}

The country resumed regular domestic flights on 22 October 2020 after an interruption of seven months, with protocols requiring passengers to wear face-masks and have travel certificates. Some provinces also required COVID-19 tests with negative result before boarding aircraft or arriving.{{cite news|title=Domestic flights restart in Argentina after seven-month stoppage|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/domestic-flights-restart-in-argentina-after-seven-month-stoppage.phtml|access-date=24 October 2020|work=Buenos Aires Time (Perfil)|date=23 October 2020}}

On 26 December 2020, the country limited the entry to the country again due to the new COVID-19 strains across the globe, and the rising of infections. The measures were expected to last until 28 January 2021.{{cite news|title=Argentina limits entry to country amid new strains, rising infections|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-limits-entry-to-country-amid-new-strains-rising-infections.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=26 December 2020}} This was expected to last until September 2021.{{cite news|title=Argentina looks at reopening border to foreign tourists in September|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-looks-at-reopening-border-to-foreign-tourists-in-september.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=24 August 2021}}

Argentina was reported to be among the countries in the region whose population adhered to the lockdown the most. Apple reported a decrease of 83 per cent on vehicular mobility through 26 April 2020,{{cite news |title=De Argentina a México: ¿dónde se respeta más la cuarentena por coronavirus? |url=https://www.dw.com/es/de-argentina-a-m%C3%A9xico-d%C3%B3nde-se-respeta-m%C3%A1s-la-cuarentena-por-coronavirus/a-53274566 |access-date=5 May 2020 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=es}} although 4,900 people were arrested across the country for violating the lockdown.{{cite news |title=Ya hay casi 5000 detenidos por violar la cuarentena que dispuso el Gobierno |url=https://www.cronista.com/economiapolitica/Ya-hay-casi-5000-detenidos-por-violar-la-cuarentena-que-dispuso-el-Gobierno-20200323-0024.html |work=El Cronista |date=23 March 2020 |language=es}} According to Google, since the lockdown, people movement in restaurants, shopping centers, cinemas and museums dropped by 86 per cent, the presence of mobile phones on public transportation dropped 80 per cent, and in offices a 57 per cent. The presence in residential zones increased by 27 per cent.{{cite news |title=Cuarentena: cómo cambió la movilidad de los argentinos, según Google |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/tecnologia/cuarentena-como-cambio-movilidad-argentinos-segun-google-nid2350415 |work=La Nación |date=3 April 2020 |language=es}}{{cite web |title=COVID-19 Community Mobility Report: Argentina |url=https://www.gstatic.com/covid19/mobility/2020-04-30_AR_Mobility_Report_en.pdf |access-date=5 May 2020}}

{{further|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education}}

Schools and universities closed indefinitely after the president's announcement of the lockdown. In response to the pandemic, classes moved to online distance learning.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: cómo iniciarán o continuarán el dictado de clases las 13 facultades de la UBA |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/coronavirus-argentina-iniciaran-continuaran-dictado-clases-13-facultades-uba_0_O-d0Mfck.html |work=Clarín |date=15 March 2020 |language=es}} 14 million students have been affected by the school closures.{{cite web |title=COVID-19 Educational Disruption and Response |date=4 March 2020 |url=https://en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=5 May 2020}} Later, the government announced that was evaluating how they would open the schools in the future, and that they were working on the distribution of netbooks to students that do not have access to computers, with the criteria for distributing them based on socioeconomic indicators.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: el Ministerio de Educación evalúa un regreso de las clases por región |url=https://www.infobae.com/coronavirus/2020/04/29/coronavirus-en-argentina-el-ministerio-de-educacion-evalua-un-regreso-de-las-clases-por-region/ |work=Infobae |date=29 April 2020 |language=es}}

On 9 June 2020, the Ministry of Education expressed that 85 per cent of students would be able to return to classes in August, though with special hygiene measures in place, but schools in the Greater Buenos Aires area would have to wait until infections in the region begin to drop off.{{cite news |title=Education Minister: 85% of schools in Argentina will likely re-open in August |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/trotta-in-august-85-of-the-country-could-return-to-schools.phtml |access-date=12 June 2020 |work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil) |date=9 June 2020}} Three months later, on 3 August 2020, the Ministry of Education confirmed that the provinces of Catamarca, San Juan and Santiago del Estero would begin a process of returning to class under a system that would involve dividing students into groups that could attend classrooms in weekly shifts.{{cite news |title=Trotta: "Si se mantiene la situación epidemiológica, habrá clases duales en tres provincias" |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/497733-trotta-situacion-epidemiologica-clases-tres-provincias.html |access-date=6 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=3 August 2020 |language=es}} On that day, schools of Catamarca and Santiago del Estero opened with directive, administrative and teaching personnel from the last years of primary and secondary levels, that were expected to prepare protocols to restart classes on 18 August 2020.{{cite news |title=Los docentes volvieron a las escuelas y Trotta dijo que es "un paso fundamental" |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/497643-docentes-clases-santiago-del-estero-trotta.html |access-date=6 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=3 August 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Trotta: "Catamarca dio todos los pasos para poder regresar a clases de manera escalonada" |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/497886-trotta-catamarca-dio-todos-los-pasos-para-poder-regresar-a-clases-de-manera-escalonada.html |access-date=6 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=3 August 2020 |language=es}} Over 10,000 students in San Juan became the first to return to face-to-face classes through social distancing on 10 August 2020. The Minister of Education, Nicolás Trotta, also announced that classes would end throughout the country in December 2020 as expected.{{cite news |title=Trotta reafirmó que "no habrá promoción automática" y que las clases terminarán en diciembre |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/500556-nicolas-trotta-el-impacto-educativo-no-se-resuelve-con-unas-semanas-mas-de-clases.html |access-date=10 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=10 August 2020 |language=es}}

File:Reinicio de clases en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires 2020.jpg

During October 2020, the opening of educational institutions was confirmed by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. Students of the last years of primary and secondary public schools would be able to assist voluntarily to the institutions, with protocols indicating that there will not be more than 10 people together, with an assistance of between two and four days per week, from one to four hours, in outdoor spaces.{{cite news|title=Cómo será la vuelta a clases en CABA y la provincia de Buenos Aires|url=https://www.baenegocios.com/politica/Como-sera-la-vuelta-a-clases-en-CABA-y-la-provincia-de-Buenos-Aires-20201009-0049.html|access-date=24 October 2020|work=BAE Negocios|date=9 October 2020|language=es}} Private schools in the City of Buenos Aires were also allowed to return to face-to-face activities since 16 October 2020.{{cite news|title=La Ciudad habilitó a 169 escuelas privadas a iniciar actividades presenciales desde este viernes|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202010/525213-la-ciudad-habilito-a-169-escuelas-privadas-a-iniciar-actividades-presenciales-desde-este-viernes.html|access-date=24 October 2020|agency=Télam|date=15 October 2020|language=es}} One week later, the first case of a COVID-19 positive school worker was confirmed in a school in Barracas, Buenos Aires, where the school had to close due to the protocols.{{cite news|title=Confirman desde UTE el primer caso de coronavirus en una escuela desde la apertura en la Ciudad|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202010/527829-confirma-ute-primer-caso-coronavirus-escuela-apertura-ciudad.html|access-date=24 October 2020|agency=Télam|date=23 October 2020|language=es}} School activities in the Province of Buenos Aires were also confirmed by governor Kicillof to begin in October in 24 municipalities,{{cite news|date=11 October 2020|title=Kicillof ratificó clases presenciales en 24 municipios bonaerenses|language=es|publisher=Government of Argentina|agency=Télam|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202010/523794-kicillof-ratifico-clases-presenciales-en-24-municipios-bonaerenses.html|access-date=24 October 2020}}{{Cite news|last=María José|first=Lucesole|date=20 October 2020|title=La Provincia de Buenos Aires aún no definió qué distritos empiezan las clases presenciales el lunes|language=es-419|trans-title=The Buenos Aires Province hasn't still decided on which districts classes will restart next Monday|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/la-provincia-buenos-aires-aun-no-definio-nid2484786}} and finally restarted for senior year students in 15 small districts, while in other 79 bigger districts only "rebonding" school activities were allowed.{{Cite news|last=Lucesole|first=María José|date=26 October 2020|title=Coronavirus. Los primeros 100 chicos volvieron a clase en la provincia de Buenos Aires|language=es-419|trans-title=Coronavirus. The first 100 kids came back to school in the Buenos Aires Province|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/coronavirus-los-primeros-100-chicos-volvieron-clase-nid2490234}}{{Cite news|date=26 October 2020|title=Regresan a clases presenciales unos 6.700 alumnos en la provincia de Buenos Aires|language=es-419|work=Télam|publisher=Government of Argentina|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202010/528714-regresan-clases-presenciales-6700-alumnos-provincia-de-buenos-aires.html}} A private report estimated in November that 34% of Argentine students were allowed to attend these "rebonding" school activities, while 1% of them were in fact attending in-person classes at the time.{{Cite news|date=10 November 2020|title=Solo el uno por ciento de los estudiantes en Argentina asistió a clases presenciales|language=es-419|work=Página/12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/305051-solo-el-uno-por-ciento-de-los-estudiantes-en-argentina-asist}}{{Cite news|last=Fernández Escudero|first=Clara|date=11 November 2020|title=Sólo el 1% de los estudiantes están habilitados para asistir a clases presenciales|language=es-419|work=Perfil|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/sociedad/argentina-solo-1-por-ciento-estudiantes-habilitados-para-asistir-clases-presenciales.phtml}}{{Cite news|last=Ayzaguer|first=María|date=17 November 2020|title=Emergencia educativa. Sólo el 1% de los estudiantes asiste a clases presenciales|language=es-419|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/emergencia-educativa-solo-1-estudiantes-asiste-clases-nid2512581}}

In November 2020, the City of Buenos Aires allowed a progressive back to school for all students,{{Cite news|last=Giambartolomei|first=Mauricio|date=6 November 2020|title=Ciudad. Desde el lunes comienza la reapertura gradual de todas las escuelas|language=es-419|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/vuelven-clases-ciudad-nid2501860}}{{Cite news|date=6 November 2020|title=Vuelven las actividades presenciales para todos los alumnos en las escuelas de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires|language=es-419|work=Página/12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/304096-vuelven-las-actividades-presenciales-para-todos-los-alumnos-}} and then announced that the 2021 school year would start earlier than usual, on 17 February 2020,{{Cite news|date=20 November 2020|title=Quirós ratificó que el 17 de febrero empezarán las clases presenciales en CABA: "Queremos evitar un daño mental y afectivo irreparable"|language=es-419|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/11/20/quiros-ratifico-que-el-17-de-febrero-empezaran-las-clases-presenciales-en-caba-queremos-evitar-un-dano-mental-y-afectivo-irreparable/}} with teachers unions protesting against the reopening of schools.{{Cite news|date=20 November 2020|title=Quirós ratifica el inicio de clases el 17 de febrero en la Ciudad y los gremios denuncian que no hubo "consenso"|language=es-419|work=Télam|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202011/535881-quiros-clases-caba.html}}{{Cite news|date=20 November 2020|title=Denunciaron que detrás de la burocracia que impide reabrir las escuelas bonaerenses están los gremios docentes|language=es-419|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/educacion/2020/11/20/denunciaron-que-detras-de-la-burocracia-que-impide-reabrir-las-escuelas-bonaerenses-estan-los-gremios-docentes/}}{{Cite news|last=Corsalini|first=Claudio|date=27 October 2020|title=Polémica entre la Ciudad y los gremios docentes por la vuelta presencial a clases|language=es-419|work=Perfil|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/sociedad/polemica-entre-la-ciudad-y-los-gremios-docentes-por-la-vuelta-a-clases.phtml}}{{Cite news|date=21 November 2020|title=Debate por la modalidad del regreso a clases en la Ciudad|language=es-419|work=Página/12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/307207-debate-por-la-modalidad-del-regreso-a-clases-en-la-ciudad}} The Province of Buenos Aires allowed school activities in 32 bigger districts during November 2020.{{Cite news|last=Ayzaguer|first=María|date=6 November 2020|title=Vuelta al aula: la provincia autorizó a 32 distritos del conurbano a reabrir escuelas|language=es-419|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/vuelta-al-aula-provincia-autorizo-33-distritos-nid2502043}}

Finally, on 17 February 2021, schools re-opened to students in five out of the 24 jurisdictions.{{cite news|title=Schools in Argentina finally re-open doors to students|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/schools-in-argentina-finally-re-open-doors-for-students.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=17 February 2020}}

During the pandemic, robberies and homicide went down during the lockdown in most of the country, and increased again as time passed and some restrictions were lifted. In the City of Buenos Aires, under the strictest lockdown, crime went down a 48 per cent during the first quarter of the year, and a 56 per cent during July 2020, but violence on those crimes increased.{{Cite news|date=15 August 2020|title=Por la cuarentena, bajó el delito en la Ciudad|language=es|trans-title=Due to the lockdown, crime decreased in the city|work=Página/12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/285171-por-la-cuarentena-bajo-el-delito-en-la-ciudad|access-date=30 August 2020}} In the Province of Buenos Aires, also under strict lockdown, 5,980 armed thefts were reported during the first 97 days of the lockdown, against 13,878 on the same period of the previous year. Also, 201 murders (16 less than in 2019), and 120 attacks with injured victims (against 197 from the previous year) were reported.{{Cite news|last=Carabajal|first=Gustavo|date=5 August 2020|title=La violencia del delito se refleja en las calles y en las estadísticas|language=es|trans-title=Crime violence reflects in the streets and on statistics|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/seguridad/la-violencia-del-delito-se-refleja-calles-nid2413531|access-date=30 August 2020}}

In Greater Buenos Aires, an increase in crimes committed by people with no previous record was seen. They were qualified as "survival crime[s]" by the Minister of Security of the province, Sergio Berni.{{cite news|date=30 June 2020|title=Sergio Berni: "Ahora tenemos una presencia muy fuerte del delito de supervivencia"|language=es|trans-title=Sergio Berni: "We now have a strong presence of survival crime"|work=Perfil|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/actualidad/sergio-berni-el-esfuerzo-recien-empieza.phtml|access-date=30 August 2020}}{{cite news|date=2 July 2020|title=Berni: "Estamos deteniendo gente sin historial que comete delitos de supervivencia"|language=es|trans-title=Berni: "We are arresting people with no criminal record who commit survival crimes"|work=Telefé Noticias|url=https://telefenoticias.com.ar/politica/berni-por-primera-vez-estamos-deteniendo-gente-sin-historial-que-comete-delitos-de-supervivencia/}} To deal with this increase in crime, an "Immediate Response Taskforce" was created for the Federal Police, and gendarmes were deployed in the area.{{cite news|last=Fuego Simondet|first=Javier|date=9 August 2020|title=Los intendentes, alarmados por el aumento de los delitos|language=es|trans-title=Mayors, worried about the increase on crime|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/los-intendentes-alarmados-por-el-aumento-de-los-delitos-nid2416160|access-date=30 August 2020}} The national Minister of Security, Sabina Frederic, stated that, even though in the first days of lockdown crime had gone down a lot, as the health precautions relaxed, crime increased, especially the violence used.{{cite news|date=5 August 2020|title=Sabina Frederic: "Estamos viendo un aumento del delito, pero sobre todo un aumento de la violencia"|language=es|trans-title=We are seeing an increase in crime, but mostly an increase on violence|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/seguridad/sabina-frederic-estamos-viendo-aumento-del-delito-nid2413345|access-date=30 August 2020}}

In the Buenos Aires' Atlantic coast, a popular summertime vacation place, there was a wave of thefts against summer houses. This was fuelled by the lockdown and how difficult it was for the house owners (most of them from Greater Buenos Aires) to access their properties and reinforce security.{{cite news|date=8 August 2020|title=Las viviendas de veraneo en la costa atlántica, a merced de los delincuentes|language=es-AR|work=El Día|url=https://www.eldia.com/nota/2020-8-8-4-7-31-las-viviendas-de-veraneo-en-la-costa-atlantica-a-merced-de-los-delincuentes-la-ciudad|access-date=30 August 2020}}{{cite news|last=Sangiorgio|first=Belisario|date=2 August 2020|title=Delito: una ola de robos en la costa preocupa a los dueños de casas de veraneo|language=es|trans-title=A crime wave in the coast worries owners of summer houses|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/seguridad/delito-ola-robos-costa-preocupa-duenos-casas-nid2410792|access-date=30 August 2020}}{{cite news|date=8 August 2020|title=El drama de los propietarios no residentes crece con los meses y no encuentra solución|language=es|trans-title=The drama for non-resident owners increases as months pass by, and it reaches no solution|work=El Fundador|url=https://elfundadoronline.com/nota/55891-el-drama-de-los-propietarios-no-residentes-crece-con-los-meses-y-no-encuentra-solucion|access-date=30 August 2020}}

On 7 September 2020, Buenos Aires Provincial Police protests spiked through the province, fuelled by having to deal with COVID-19 in the front line, while not being provided any personal protective equipment and earning a monthly minimum wage of 40,000 pesos (about 430 U.S. dollars), with overtime being paid at 50 pesos (2,30 U.S. dollars) per hour.{{Cite web|date=8 September 2020|title=Police officers in Buenos Aires Province protest to demand better salaries|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/police-officers-in-buenos-aires-province-protest-to-demand-better-salaries.phtml|access-date=8 September 2020|website=Buenos Aires Times}}{{Cite news|date=8 September 2020|title=Tras el anuncio de mejoras salariales, crecen las protestas policiales: los uniformados exigen la cifra del aumento|language=es-AR|trans-title=Police protests increase after a wage increase was announced: they demand to know the amount of the increase|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/seguridad/tras-anuncio-mejoras-salariales-hay-nuevas-protestas-nid2444194}} Police stopped patrolling, responding only to urgent 911 emergency calls.{{Cite news|last=Beldi|first=Luis|date=8 September 2020|title=Efectivos de la policía bonaerense realizaron protestas en distintos puntos de la Provincia en reclamo de mejores condiciones de trabajo|language=es-AR|trans-title=Buenos Aires Provincial police officers protest demanding better work conditions in several points of the Province|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/09/08/efectivos-de-la-policia-bonaerense-realizaron-protestas-en-distintos-puntos-de-la-provincia-en-reclamo-de-mejores-condiciones-de-trabajo/|access-date=8 September 2020}}

File:Guerni-1.jpg, Buenos Aires.]]

Argentina has a long-standing housing access and slums problem, which was only worsened by the pandemic. Special testing and containment efforts had to be put in place in lower-income neighbourhoods, mostly after outbreaks in Buenos Aires (Villa 31 and Barrio Mujica) and Quilmes (Villa Azul and Villa Itatí) shantytowns.{{Cite web|date=27 May 2020|title=Argentina cordons off virus-hit slum as critics decry 'ghettoes for poor people'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/27/argentina-cordons-off-coronavirus-slum-ghettoes-for-poor-people|access-date=29 September 2020|work=The Guardian}} These areas, with scarce access to water and ventilation, as well as overcrowding, make complying to the mandatory lockdown difficult and facilitate the COVID-19 rapid spread. The DetectAr testing campaign in Buenos Aires' slums included research of housing conditions and the taking of samples in common areas (such as meal centers) for RT-qPCR tests, which showed high SARS-CoV-2 prevalence.{{Cite medRxiv |last1=Figar |first1=Silvana |last2=Pagotto |first2=Vanina |last3=Luna |first3=Lorena |last4=Salto |first4=Julieta |last5=Manslau |first5=Magdalena Wagner |last6=Mistchenko |first6=Alicia |last7=Gamarnik |first7=Andrea |last8=Saldano |first8=Ana María Gómez |last9=Quirós |first9=Fernán |date=18 July 2020 |title=Community-level SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Survey in urban slum dwellers of Buenos Aires City, Argentina: a participatory research. |medrxiv=10.1101/2020.07.14.20153858v2}} The COVID-19 crisis also increased "land occupations" by social movements, in which they forcefully appropriated lands to establish slums.{{Cite web|date=26 September 2020|title=Land occupations and rising poverty pose problems for Peronism|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/land-occupations-and-rising-poverty-pose-problems-for-peronism.phtml|access-date=29 September 2020|work=Buenos Aires Times}}{{Cite news|last1=Lammertyn|first1=Miguel|last2=Lo Bianco|first2=Marina|date=16 September 2020|title='Nowhere to go': Argentine families occupy land as pandemic stokes poverty|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-argentina-land-idUSKBN2673CD|access-date=29 September 2020}} This was also favoured by laws suspending evictions as a relief measure for the crisis.{{Cite news|last=Lara|first=Rodofo|date=1 September 2020|title=Provincia: buscan evitar que una ley contra los desalojos en la pandemia sea usada por los tomadores de tierras|language=es|trans-title=The Province: an attempt to prevent a law suspending evictions amid the pandemic to be used by land grabbers|work=Clarín|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/provincia-buscan-evitar-ley-desalojos-pandemia-usada-tomadores-tierras_0_u3M71Fkur.html|access-date=29 September 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Ley 15.172|trans-title=Act 15172|url=https://normas.gba.gob.ar/documentos/087KAnUZ.html|publisher=Government of the Buenos Aires Province|language=es}}

It has been estimated that, by September 2020, {{Convert|4300|ha|acre}} of both private and public lands had been usurped in the Buenos Aires Province,{{Cite news|last=Klipphan|first=Andrés|date=2 September 2020|title=En la provincia de Buenos Aires ya fueron usurpadas 4.300 hectáreas donde se iban a construir barrios cerrados y viviendas sociales|language=es|trans-title=4,300 hectares, where closed communities and housing projects were to be built, have already been occupied in the Buenos Aires Province|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/09/02/mapa-de-la-toma-de-tierras-en-la-provincia-de-buenos-aires-hay-usurpadas-4300-hectareas-donde-se-iban-a-construir-barrios-cerrados-y-viviendas-sociales/|access-date=29 September 2020}} the most notable one being located in Guernica, comprising about {{Convert|100|hectare|acre}}.{{Cite news|last=Smink|first=Veronica|date=2 October 2020|title=Qué hay detrás de la "oleada" de tomas de tierras en Argentina|language=es|work=BBC Mundo|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-54381168|access-date=3 October 2020}} Housing projects, which had been unfinished for years, were also occupied in some areas.{{Cite news|date=3 September 2020|title=Fotos: cómo es por dentro Guernica, la toma de tierras más grande de la provincia de Buenos Aires|language=es-AR|trans-title=Pictures: The insides of Guernica, the biggest land occupation in the Buenos Aires Province|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/09/03/fotos-como-es-por-dentro-guernica-la-toma-de-tierras-mas-grande-de-la-provincia-de-buenos-aires/|access-date=29 September 2020}} This sparkled political criticism both from the insides of the government, as well from the political opposition, with the Security Minister of the Province of Buenos Aires suggesting that occupations were organised by social movements from inside the governing coalition.{{Cite news|date=2 September 2020|title=Toma de terrenos: Berni culpó al Chino Navarro y a Emilio Pérsico|language=es|trans-title=Land Occupations: Berni blamed Chino Navarro and Emilio Pérsico|work=MDZ Online|url=https://www.mdzol.com/politica/2020/9/2/toma-de-terrenos-berni-culpo-al-chino-navarro-emilio-persico-102665.html|access-date=29 September 2020}}{{Cite news|date=11 August 2020|title=Patricia Bullrich advirtió a Juan Grabois: "La toma de tierras es ilegal"|language=es|trans-title=Patricia Bullrich warned Juan Grabois: "Land Occupation is illegal"|work=El Intransigente|url=https://elintransigente.com/2020/08/patricia-bullrich-advirtio-a-juan-grabois-la-toma-de-tierras-es-ilegal/|access-date=29 September 2020|archive-date=25 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925122900/https://elintransigente.com/2020/08/patricia-bullrich-advirtio-a-juan-grabois-la-toma-de-tierras-es-ilegal/|url-status=dead}} Justice started investigations on this possible involvement.{{Cite news|last=Klipphan|first=Andrés|date=8 September 2020|title=La Justicia investiga si La Cámpora y otros movimientos sociales instigaron las tomas de tierras en el Conurbano|language=es|trans-title=Justice investigates if La Cámpora and other social movements fueled land occupations in the Conurbano area|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/09/08/la-justicia-investiga-si-la-campora-y-otros-movimientos-sociales-instigaron-las-tomas-de-tierras-en-el-conurbano/|access-date=29 September 2020}} Some government members initially refused evictions of occupied land,{{Cite news|date=31 August 2020|title="La toma de tierras no es un tema de Seguridad", aseguró la ministra Sabina Frederic|language=es|trans-title="Land occupation is not a Security issue", stated Minister Sabrina Frederic|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/08/31/la-toma-de-tierras-no-es-un-tema-de-seguridad-aseguro-la-ministra-sabina-frederic/|access-date=29 September 2020}} but days later turned into a more critical view.{{Cite news|last=Jastreblansky|first=Maia|date=3 September 2020|title=Sabina Frederic se alineó con la postura de Alberto Fernández: "Las tomas de tierras son ilegales"|language=es|trans-title=Sabina Frederic aligns with the Alberto Fernandez thinking: "Land occupations are illegal"|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/sabina-frederic-se-alineo-postura-alberto-fernandez-nid2439641|access-date=29 September 2020}} Other sectors of society claimed occupations should not be evicted, and that unused lands should be distributed to the most needed.{{Cite news|date=29 September 2020|title=Organizaciones de DDHH piden al juez que cancele el desalojo en Guernica|language=es|trans-title=Human Rights Organizations pledge the judge to cancel the eviction in Guernica|agency=Télam|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202009/519702-organizaciones-de-ddhh-piden-al-juez-que-cancele-el-desalojo-en-guernica.html|access-date=29 September 2020}}{{Cite news|date=11 August 2020|title=Juan Grabois: "Hay una oleada de toma de tierras y se va a profundizar"|language=es|trans-title=Juan Grabois: "There's a wave of land occupation, and it'll only get worse"|work=Perfil|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/politica/juan-grabois-hay-oleada-toma-tierra-se-va-profundizar.phtml|access-date=29 September 2020}}

In the Patagonia region, occupations by people referencing themselves as Mapuches also surged amid the pandemic. One of a {{Convert|480|hectare|acre|abbr=}} National Parks area in Villa Mascardi received the biggest national media attention.{{Cite web|last=Centenera|first=Mar|date=31 August 2020|title=La tensión entre vecinos y comunidades mapuches reactiva el conflicto por la tierra en la Patagonia argentina|trans-title=Tension between neighbors and Mapuche communities restarts land conflict in Argentine Patagonia|url=https://elpais.com/sociedad/2020-08-31/la-tension-entre-vecinos-y-comunidades-mapuches-reactiva-el-conflicto-por-la-tierra-en-la-patagonia-argentina.html|access-date=29 September 2020|website=El País|language=es}}{{Cite news|last=Chaina|first=Patricia|date=25 September 2020|title=Bariloche: Ordenan desalojo en medio del Relevamiento Nacional de Tierras|language=es|trans-title=Bariloche: The eviction is ordered in the midst of the National Land Survey|work=Página/12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/294560-bariloche-ordenan-desalojo-en-medio-del-relevamiento-naciona|access-date=29 September 2020}} This caused demonstrations of people against the occupation, which ended in the National Minister of Security starting legal complaints against the demonstrators.{{Cite news|last=Fuentes|first=Laureana|date=29 August 2020|title=Villa Mascardi: el Ministerio de Seguridad denunció a los manifestantes que protestaron contra la toma de tierras|language=es|trans-title=Villa Mascardi: The National Ministry of Security started complaints to the demonstrators against the land occupation|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/villa-mascardi-ministerio-seguridad-denuncio-manifestantes-protestaron-nid2435187|access-date=29 September 2020}}

File:Cuarentena titi nicola covid 2019 coronavirus argentina aislamiento 02.jpg in Argentina.]]

The government imposed a series of measurements for public transportation (taxis, buses and train services) focused on the hygiene of the units and recommendation of travel only if it's essential.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Hugo |title=El transporte en alerta: cómo será viajar en micros, trenes y taxis en medio de la pandemia |url=https://www.infobae.com/coronavirus/2020/03/13/el-transporte-en-alerta-como-sera-viajar-en-micros-trenes-y-taxis-en-medio-de-la-pandemia/ |access-date=13 March 2020 |work=Infobae |date=13 March 2020 |language=es}} Public transportation services offered a Saturday-schedule until the start of the "administrated lockdown" on 13 April 2020. Since this day, all public transportation services returned to the normal schedules, but still maintaining the hygiene measures to prevent the spread of the virus.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en Argentina: cómo funcionará el transporte público en la cuarentena administrada |url=https://www.cronista.com/economiapolitica/Coronavirus-en-Argentina-como-funcionara-el-transporte-publico-en-la-cuarentena-administrada-20200412-0007.html |work=El Cronista |date=12 April 2020 |language=es}}

On 4 May 2020, the government announced a new protocol that orders that public transportation will only occupy 60 per cent of its capacity. The combis and mini-buses services will also begin to work again since the begin of the mandatory lockdown.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: El transporte público sólo podrá ocupar el 60% de su capacidad |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/263701-coronavirus-el-transporte-publico-solo-podra-ocupar-el-60-de |access-date=4 May 2020 |work=Página 12 |date=4 May 2020 |language=es}}

File:Camaras termograficas estacion lomas de zamora.jpg

After the use of public transportation in Greater Buenos Aires grew by 60 per cent in early June 2020,{{cite news |last1=Dinatale |first1=Martín |title=El uso del transporte público en el AMBA creció un 60% el último fin de semana y el Gobierno analiza cambios |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/06/09/el-uso-del-transporte-publico-en-el-amba-crecio-un-60-el-ultimo-fin-de-semana-y-el-gobierno-analiza-cambios/ |access-date=28 June 2020 |work=Infobae |date=9 June 2020 |language=es}} the government announced new measures to allow only "essential workers" for the use of train, bus and underground services.{{cite news |title=Reforzaron controles en el AMBA: solo trabajadores esenciales pueden viajar en transporte público |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/06/19/a-9-dias-de-que-venza-la-prorroga-de-la-cuarentena-refuerzan-los-controles-en-el-amba-y-solo-pueden-viajar-en-transporte-publico-los-trabajadores-esenciales/ |access-date=28 June 2020 |work=Infobae |date=19 June 2020 |language=es}} Train passengers were forced to reserve seats to travel since 29 June 2020.{{cite news |title=Casi un millón de personas usó el transporte público en el AMBA |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202006/481431-transporte-amba-cuarentena.html |access-date=28 June 2020 |agency=Télam |date=25 June 2020 |language=es}} Under the lockdown tightening that came into effect on 1 July 2020, public transportation use in Greater Buenos Aires dropped by 30 per cent (around 300,000 passengers) on the first days compared versus the previous week.{{cite news |title=El uso del transporte público bajó un 30% y Meoni espera que la tendencia "se mantenga" |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202007/484608-coronavirus-transporte-amba.html |access-date=3 July 2020 |agency=Télam |date=2 July 2020 |language=es}}

On 4 August 2020, the Sarmiento Line of train interrupted its service after COVID-19 cases were detected among its employees.{{cite news |title=El Tren Sarmiento estará interrumpido hasta mañana y habrá micros para continuar el servicio |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/498042-tren-sarmiento-interrumpido-hasta-manana.html |access-date=6 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=4 August 2020 |language=es}} 36 workers tested positive for the virus and 130 people had to be isolated. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the line accumulated 56 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to that date.{{cite news |title=El Tren Sarmiento funcionará solamente hasta las 10 horas |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/498882-tren-sarmiento-funcionamiento-por-coronavirus.html |access-date=6 August 2020 |agency=Télam |date=5 August 2020 |language=es}}

{{Main|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human rights in Argentina}}

As for the human rights situation, claims were made on police brutality,{{cite news|date=16 August 2020|title=Una ONG afirma que durante la cuarentena hubo 92 muertes perpetradas por fuerzas estatales|work=Infobae|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/policiales/2020/08/16/una-ong-afirma-que-durante-la-cuarentena-hubo-92-muertes-perpetradas-por-fuerzas-estatales/|access-date=27 September 2020|language=es}} an increase of domestic violence,{{cite news|last=Naveiro|first=Jorgelina|date=23 July 2020|title=Crecieron un 35% los pedidos de ayuda por violencia de género y en el 80% de los casos el agresor es la pareja|work=Tiempo Argentino|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.tiempoar.com.ar/nota/crecieron-un-35-los-pedidos-de-ayuda-por-violencia-de-genero-en-la-cuarentena|access-date=27 September 2020|language=es|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027070341/https://www.tiempoar.com.ar/nota/crecieron-un-35-los-pedidos-de-ayuda-por-violencia-de-genero-en-la-cuarentena|url-status=dead}} human trafficking,{{Cite news|date=22 September 2020|title=Aumentaron las denuncias de víctimas de trata durante la cuarentena|language=es|trans-title=Human trafficking victims' complaints surge during the lockdown|work=BAE Negocios|url=https://www.baenegocios.com/sociedad/Aumentaron-las-denuncias-de-victimas-de-trata-durante-la-cuarentena-20200922-0070.html|access-date=28 September 2020}} and the right to freedom of movement.{{Cite news|date=19 November 2020|title=Santiago del Estero: su hija es paciente oncológica y debió cargarla 5 kilómetros en brazos porque le prohibieron ingresar en auto a la provincia|language=es-419|work=Infobae|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2020/11/19/santiago-del-estero-su-hija-es-paciente-oncologica-y-debio-cargarla-5-kilometros-en-brazos-porque-le-prohibieron-ingresar-en-auto-a-la-provincia/?outputType=amp-type}}{{Cite news|date=11 September 2020|title=Transporte. La odisea de los camioneros en la pandemia|language=es-ar|trans-title=Transport. The truckers' pandemic odyssey|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/transporte-la-odisea-camioneros-pandemia-nid2447345}}{{Cite web|title=Camioneros cortan la ruta 34 por abusos en los controles en Santiago del Estero|trans-title=Truck Drivers block Route 34 after abuses in Santiago Del Estero police checkpoints|url=https://www.rosarioplus.com/ensacoycorbata/Camioneros-cortan-la-ruta-34-por-abusos-en-los-controles-en-Santiago-del-Estero-20200720-0013.html|access-date=27 September 2020|work=RosarioPlus|date=20 July 2020 |language=es}}{{Cite web|date=2 June 2020|title=Un hombre murió al intentar cruzar una barricada entre San Luis y Córdoba|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/coronavirus-argentina-hombre-murio-al-intentar-cruzar-nid2372569|access-date=27 September 2020|work=La Nación|language=es}}{{Cite news|last1=Rey|first1=Debora|last2=Calatrava|first2=Almudena|last3=Torchia|first3=Christopher|date=12 August 2020|title=Nerves fray in Argentina, where some flout pandemic lockdown|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/nerves-fray-in-argentina-where-some-flout-pandemic-lockdown/2020/08/12/ff161f2a-dcc3-11ea-b4f1-25b762cdbbf4_story.html|access-date=27 September 2020|issn=0190-8286}} Particularly, two cases of police brutality received substantial attention on national media: the death of Luis Espinoza, who was killed by the Tucumán Provincial Police during a control of lockdown abidance,{{cite news|date=28 June 2020|title=Tucumán: Probe into police opened after man 'suffocated' during arrest|work=Buenos Aires Times|publisher=Perfil|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/tucuman-probe-into-police-opened-after-man-suffocated-during-arrest.phtml|access-date=27 September 2020|ref=BATimesUN}} and the disappearance of Facundo Astudillo Castro, who was later found dead near Bahía Blanca, after being stopped several times by the Buenos Aires Provincial Police for not complying with the lockdown measures.{{Cite news|last=Velázquez|first=Héctor|date=5 September 2020|title=Facundo Astudillo Castro's disappearance: How the search unfolded|work=Buenos Aires Times|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/facundo-astudillo-castros-disappearance-how-the-search-unfolded.phtml|access-date=27 September 2020}}{{Cite web|date=22 July 2020|title=ARGENTINA: DISAPPEARED DURING COVID-19 QUARANTINE|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/document/?indexNumber=amr13%2f2767%2f2020&language=en|access-date=27 September 2020|publisher=Amnesty International}} Police involvement in the latter is suspected but has yet not been proven. The UN made claims to the Argentine government on these cases.{{Cite news|last=Meyer|first=Adriana|date=11 July 2020|title=La ONU reclamó al Estado una "estrategia integral" para hallar a Facundo Castro|language=es|trans-title=The UN asked the State for a "comprehensive strategy" to find Facundo Castro|work=Página/12|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/277965-la-onu-reclamo-al-estado-una-estrategia-integral-para-hallar|access-date=27 September 2020}}{{cite web|title=«La APDH se reunió con representantes de Oficina Regional para America del Sur del Alto Comisionado de la ONU para los DDHH sobre el caso de desaparición forzada y asesinato de Luis Espinoza|trans-title=The Permanent Assembly for Human Rights met with representatives of the OHCHR Regional Office for South America on regards of the kidnap and murder of Luis Espinoza|url=https://www.apdh-argentina.org.ar/apdh-se-reunio-con-representantes-de-oficina-regional-para-america-del-sur-del|access-date=27 September 2020|website=Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos (ACNUDH)|publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|language=es|ref=UN|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630005043/https://www.apdh-argentina.org.ar/apdh-se-reunio-con-representantes-de-oficina-regional-para-america-del-sur-del|url-status=dead}}

File:Barricada_Coronel_Suarez_Coronavirus.jpg, Buenos Aires.]]

Mobility was heavily restricted, with strict checkpoints in province's borders, which allowed entrance only on a limited number of cases with a permit.{{Cite web|date=2 June 2020|title=Un hombre murió al intentar cruzar una barricada entre San Luis y Córdoba|trans-title=A man died after trying to cross a barricade between San Luis and Córdoba|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/coronavirus-argentina-hombre-murio-al-intentar-cruzar-nid2372569|access-date=27 September 2020|work=La Nación|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=24 May 2020|title=Quarantine extension: new permits, more checkpoints, less public transport|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/economy/quarantine-extension-new-permits-more-checkpoints-less-public-transport.phtml|access-date=27 September 2020|work=Buenos Aires Times}} Dirt barricades were built in some cities' entrances. This led to cases of citizens not being able to greet a family member on their deathbed despite having the required permits,{{Cite news|date=21 August 2020|title="Hasta mi último suspiro tengo mis derechos", la carta que había escrito Solange|language=es|trans-title="Until my last breath, I still have my rights", the letter Solange had written|work=La Voz|location=Córdoba|url=https://www.lavoz.com.ar/ciudadanos/hasta-mi-ultimo-suspiro-tengo-mis-derechos-carta-que-habia-escrito-solange|access-date=27 September 2020}}{{Cite news|date=21 August 2020|title=Murió Solange, la joven enferma de cáncer que no pudo despedirse de su padre en Córdoba|language=es|trans-title=Solange, the cancer patient who couldn't kiss off his father in Córdoba, died|work=Infobae|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.lavoz.com.ar/ciudadanos/hasta-mi-ultimo-suspiro-tengo-mis-derechos-carta-que-habia-escrito-solange|access-date=27 September 2020}} and patients dying due to ambulances not being allowed to enter another province.{{Cite news|date=21 September 2020|title=Un jubilado murió en la ruta luego de que le negaran el ingreso a La Pampa para ser atendido de urgencia|language=es|trans-title=A retired man died on a road after being refused entrance to La Pampa for urgent medical care|work=Clarín|url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/jubilado-murio-ruta-luego-negaran-ingreso-pampa-atendido-urgencia_0_mjMhhxmFR.html}} Some people had to camp in the provincial borders.{{Cite news|last=Boerr|first=Martin|date=25 October 2020|title=Un "país aparte", la provincia donde solo rigen las leyes de Gildo Insfrán|language=es-419|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/varados-formosa-cazan-pescan-duermen-intemperie-brutal-nid2488555}}{{Cite web|date=27 October 2020|title=Lleva 50 días varado en Formosa y no pudo estar en el nacimiento de su hija: "Voy a cruzar nadando"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNI8MH9tTTc|via=YouTube|publisher=Todo Noticias|language=es-419|format=video}} It was estimated that around 8,000 people were stranded trying to access the Formosa Province, which led to a ruling of the Supreme Court of Argentina stating they should be granted access.{{Cite news|last=Miri|first=Ignacio|date=19 November 2020|title=La Corte Suprema le ordenó a Formosa que deje entrar a todos los varados en un plazo máximo de 15 días|language=es-419|work=Clarín|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/corte-suprema-ordeno-formosa-deje-entrar-varados-plazo-maximo-15-dias_0_fYC6YgIds.html}}{{Cite news|last=Cappiello|first=Hernán|date=19 November 2020|title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: la Corte Suprema falló contra Gildo Insfrán y ordenó la libre circulación en Formosa|language=es-419|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/la-corte-suprema-le-ordeno-formosa-deje-nid2514907}} Truck drivers also criticised the roadblocks and lockdown control measures in roads, stating they had to wait for up to 20 hours in police checkpoints, and considering the measures as inhumane, among other reasons, for being unable to make bathroom stops for hours.{{Cite web|title=Camioneros cortan la ruta 34 por abusos en los controles en Santiago del Estero|trans-title=Truck Drivers block Route 34 after abuses in Santiago Del Estero police checkpoints|url=https://www.rosarioplus.com/ensacoycorbata/Camioneros-cortan-la-ruta-34-por-abusos-en-los-controles-en-Santiago-del-Estero-20200720-0013.html|access-date=27 September 2020|website=RosarioPlus|date=20 July 2020 |language=es}}{{Cite news|date=8 July 2020|title=Camioneros de Salta tildan de "inhumano" fajar los vehículos|language=es|trans-title=Salta truck drivers qualify sealing the vehicles as "inhumane"|work=Cadena 3|location=Córdoba|url=https://www.cadena3.com/noticia/viva-la-radio/camioneros-de-salta-tildan-de-inhumano-fajar-los-vehiculos_264881|access-date=27 September 2020}}

Commercial flights were restricted from April to the end of October 2020,{{Cite news|date=30 October 2020|title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: vuelven los vuelos internacionales|language=es-419|trans-title=Coronavirus in Argentina: international flights restart|work=La Nación|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/coronavirus-argentina-vuelven-vuelos-regulares-internacionales-nid2494014}}{{Cite news|date=22 October 2020|title=Aerolíneas Argentinas arrancó con los vuelos de cabotaje regulares|language=es-419|trans-title=Aerolíneas Argentinas restarted domestic regular flights|work=Página/12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/300913-aerolineas-argentinas-arranco-con-los-vuelos-de-cabotaje-reg}} following one of the longest lockdowns worldwide,{{Cite news|last1=Rey|first1=Debora|last2=Calatrava|first2=Almudena|last3=Torchia|first3=Christopher|date=12 August 2020|title=Nerves fray in Argentina, where some flout pandemic lockdown|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/nerves-fray-in-argentina-where-some-flout-pandemic-lockdown/2020/08/12/ff161f2a-dcc3-11ea-b4f1-25b762cdbbf4_story.html|access-date=9 September 2020|issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web|date=5 September 2020|title=Commercial flights to and from Argentina could restart in October|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/economy/commercial-flights-to-and-from-argentina-could-restart-in-october.phtml|access-date=9 September 2020|website=Buenos Aires Times}} and causing criticism from the International Air Transport Association.{{Cite web|date=7 April 2020|title=IATA Calls on Argentine Government to Support Aviation in the Face of COVID-19 Crisis|url=https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pr/2020-04-07-03/|access-date=9 September 2020|publisher=International Air Transport Association|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812045032/https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pr/2020-04-07-03/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|date=15 May 2020|title=Argentina could loosen coronavirus travel ban early, says airline trade group|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-argentina-flights-idUSL1N2CX1DH|access-date=9 September 2020}}

{{further|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television}}

Since the start of the national lockdown, broadcast television saw a 30 per cent increase of viewership during the week between 17 and 22 March 2020. The networks increased the airtime of talk shows and news programming, while reality shows were still in production.{{cite news |last1=Lussich |first1=Rodrigo |title=Coronavirus: la televisión de aire crece en rating y cambia su programación |url=https://www.infobae.com/teleshow/2020/03/23/coronavirus-la-television-de-aire-crece-en-rating-y-cambia-su-programacion/ |access-date=23 March 2020 |work=Infobae |date=23 March 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |last1=Otero |first1=Nieves |title=Cocina, música y cine, ¿las claves de la televisión en tiempos de coronavirus? |url=https://www.infobae.com/teleshow/infoshow/2020/03/23/la-television-en-tiempos-de-coronavirus-cocina-musica-y-cine-la-clave-para-encontrar-el-equilibrio-entre-informacion-y-entretenimiento/ |access-date=23 March 2020 |work=Infobae |date=23 March 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en la Argentina: los cambios de la TV abierta |url=https://www.clarin.com/espectaculos/tv/coronavirus-argentina-cambios-tv-abierta_0_WkJvj1GW8.html |work=Clarín |date=23 March 2020}}

File:Andy Kusnetzoff.jpg (Telefe) tested positive for the virus in August 2020.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus en la televisión argentina: qué famosos dieron positivo |url=https://argentina.as.com/argentina/2020/09/02/tikitakas/1599077819_616008.html |access-date=4 September 2020 |work=Tikitakas (Diario AS) |date=2 September 2020 |language=es}}]]

A fundraising special show aimed to the Red Cross for supplying hospitals and health centers aired throughout all six broadcast networks (América TV, Televisión Pública, El Nueve, Telefe, El Trece and Net TV) on 5 April 2020. The show, called "United for Argentina", included celebrities and famous people from the Argentine media. Donations reached a total of 87,938,624 Argentine pesos (ARS).{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: cómo fue la maratón de TV que transmitieron todos los canales de aire en cadena |url=https://www.clarin.com/espectaculos/tv/coronavirus-programa-especial-transmitieron-canales-simultaneo_0_h5qtWD59t.html |work=Clarín |date=5 April 2020 |language=es}}

The only telenovela that was airing on broadcast television before the beginning of the pandemic, Separadas (from El Trece), was removed from the schedule after its 19 March 2020 airing and production was suspended temporarily.{{cite news |last1=Lussich |first1=Rodrigo |title=El futuro de "Separadas": luego de que el elenco pidiera cesar las grabaciones, qué determinación tomó el canal |url=https://www.infobae.com/teleshow/infoshow/2020/03/17/jornada-clave-por-la-suspension-de-separadas-corre-riesgo-el-futuro-de-la-novela-del-prime-time/ |access-date=17 March 2020 |work=Infobae |date=17 March 2020 |language=es}} Two months later, producing company Pol-ka definitely cancelled the show due to "economic reasons", leaving Argentine television without any scripted programming.{{cite news |last1=Respighi |first1=Emanuel |title=Polka cancela Separadas y se abre la discusión sobre el futuro de la ficción argentina |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/265362-polka-cancela-separadas-y-se-abre-la-discusion-sobre-el-futu |access-date=13 May 2020 |work=Página 12 |date=13 May 2020 |language=es}}

The first cases of COVID-19 reached Argentine television in June 2020. The first confirmed case was from El Nueve's sports journalist Guillermo Ferro.{{cite news |last1=Respighi |first1=Emanuel |title=Ya hay cinco casos de coronavirus en la televisión argentina |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/272593-ya-hay-cinco-casos-de-coronavirus-en-la-television-argentina |access-date=28 June 2020 |work=Página/12 |date=17 June 2020 |language=es}} Later, three producers from Telefe's El Precio Justo were also diagnosed, making the show to enter on hiatus and schedule reruns to air instead.{{cite news |title=Por un caso de coronavirus en El precio justo, Lizy Tagliani deberá aislarse |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/espectaculos/television/por-caso-coronavirus-el-precio-justo-lizy-nid2380234 |work=La Nación |date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628032655/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/espectaculos/television/por-caso-coronavirus-el-precio-justo-lizy-nid2380234 |archive-date=28 June 2020 |language=es}} El Precio Justo{{'s}} hostess Lizy Tagliani later reported that she was diagnosed positive for COVID-19. Telefe also announced that talk show Cortá por Lozano would be broadcast with the hostess and panellists from their homes as a preventive measure.{{cite news |title=Entre protocolos y cuestionamientos, el coronavirus llegó a la TV |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202006/481863-television-coronavirus-pandemia.html |access-date=28 June 2020 |agency=Télam |date=26 June 2020 |language=es}} An employee from América TV was also diagnosed with COVID-19 on 18 June 2020.{{cite news |title=Confirman el primer caso de coronavirus en América TV |url=https://www.ambito.com/informacion-general/coronavirus/confirman-el-primer-caso-america-tv-n5111056 |access-date=28 June 2020 |work=Ámbito Financiero |date=19 June 2020 |language=es}} On 27 June 2020, news channel C5N implemented a protocol to prevent new infections after one of their journalists, Fernanda Arena, tested positive for COVID-19.{{cite news |title=C5N aplica protocolo de Covid-19 |url=https://www.ambito.com/informacion-general/c5n/aplica-protocolo-covid-19-n5113117 |access-date=28 June 2020 |work=Ámbito Financiero |date=27 June 2020 |language=es}}

Through the beginning of September, several journalists, hosts, crew and famous personalities from television and radio tested positive for the virus. Santiago del Moro, Catherine Fulop, Guido Kaczka, Andy Kusnetzoff, Alejandro Fantino, Baby Etchecopar, Eduardo Feinmann, Nicole Neumann and Maju Lozano were among the people from the Argentine media that have been tested positive.

{{further|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports}}

On 12 March 2020, FIFA announced that the first two rounds of the South American qualification for the 2022 World Cup due to take place during that month were postponed to later dates.{{cite news |title=Update on upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers in South America |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/update-on-upcoming-fifa-world-cup-qualifiers-in-south-america |publisher=FIFA |date=12 March 2020}} The same day, CONMEBOL announced that the Copa Libertadores would be temporarily suspended.{{cite news |title=La CONMEBOL Libertadores queda suspendida temporalmente |url=http://www.conmebol.com/es/la-conmebol-libertadores-queda-suspendida-temporalmente |publisher=CONMEBOL |date=12 March 2020 |language=es}} Later, on 17 March 2020, CONMEBOL announced that the 2020 edition of Copa América was postponed to 2021.{{cite news |last1=Panja |first1=Tariq |title=Euro 2020 and Copa América Are Postponed for a Year |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/sports/euro-2020-postponed.html |work=The New York Times |date=17 March 2020}}

On 13 March, the 2020 running of Rally Argentina was postponed.{{cite news |last1=Garton |first1=Nick |title=Coronavirus forces WRC Rally Argentina to be postponed |url=https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/148648/coronavirus-forces-rally-argentina-to-be-postponed |access-date=13 March 2020 |work=Autosport |date=13 March 2020}} The MotoGP's Gran Premio Motul de la Republica Argentina was also scheduled to take place during the year but was later cancelled on 31 July.{{cite news |last1=Nair |first1=Rohith |title=Three MotoGP races cancelled due to pandemic, one added in Europe |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-motogp-races/three-motogp-races-cancelled-due-to-pandemic-one-added-in-europe-idUSKCN24W1IT |access-date=31 July 2020 |work=Reuters |date=31 July 2020}}

On 15 March 2020, President Fernández announced that, among other measures, he intended to keep football matches ongoing but without audience.{{cite news |title=Coronavirus. Alberto Fernández pidió que el fútbol siga y se transmita por TV abierta |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/coronavirus-alberto-fernandez-pidio-futbol-siga-se-nid2343662 |work=La Nación |date=15 March 2020 |language=es}} The first match suspended by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) was between Club Atlético Independiente and Club Villa Mitre from the Copa Argentina. It was supposed to be played on 17 March, but was moved to 1 April 2020.{{Cite tweet|number=1239710232399556608|user=afa|title=#CopaArgentina El encuentro entre @Independiente y @VillaMitreBB , por los 32avos de Final, fue reprogramado para el miércoles 1 de abril, en horario a confirmar.|date=16 March 2020|author=Argentine Football Association|language=es}} On that same day, every football category was suspended indefinitely,{{cite news |last1=Casar González |first1=Alejandro |title=El fútbol se detiene por el coronavirus: los motivos de la marcha atrás del Gobierno |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/golpe-timon-gobierno-suspende-todo-futbol-coronavirus-nid2344002 |work=La Nación |date=17 March 2020 |language=es}} being the match between Club Atlético Colón and Rosario Central (for the Superliga) the last played, on 16 March 2020.{{cite news |title=A dos meses del último partido en Argentina |url=https://www.ole.com.ar/futbol-primera/meses-ultimo-partido-argentina_0_VPatYxO1q.html |work=Olé |date=16 May 2020 |language=es}}

After months of uncertainty,{{cite news |title=¿Cuándo vuelve el fútbol argentino? |url=https://www.goal.com/es-ar/noticias/cuando-vuelve-el-futbol-argentino/clu00ephhva717qw6jfrtfos2 |work=Goal |date=12 May 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Rodolfo D'Onofrio se refirió a la vuelta a los entrenamientos en Argentina: "El fútbol hoy no es una prioridad" |url=https://www.infobae.com/deportes-2/2020/05/14/rodolfo-donofrio-se-refirio-a-la-vuelta-a-los-entrenamientos-en-el-futbol-argentino/ |work=Infobae |date=14 May 2020 |language=es}} a tentative date for the return of football was announced. It was expected that since 31 July 2020, the teams would be able to return to practice after the players, coaching staff and club employees are tested, following the steps that were taken in European football, making the tournament to return on mid-September.{{cite news |title=AFA y Gobierno diagraman la vuelta a los entrenamientos en el fútbol argentino |url=https://mundod.lavoz.com.ar/futbol/afa-y-gobierno-diagraman-la-vuelta-a-los-entrenamientos-en-el-futbol-argentino |work=Mundo D |date=12 June 2020 |language=es}} Later, on 4 August 2020, the Argentine Football Association announced that after health protocols were approved by the government, practices of the Men's First Division and Women's First Division would definitely return on 10 August, later being joined by the second division on 2 September and the rest of the categories on 7 September 2020. Before returning to practice, several clubs such as Boca Juniors, River Plate, Independiente, Racing, San Lorenzo and Vélez Sársfield, among others, tested its players with positive results for COVID-19.{{cite news |title=Qué jugadores del fútbol argentino dieron positivo por coronavirus |url=https://www.goal.com/es-ar/noticias/que-jugadores-del-futbol-argentino-dieron-positivo-por/1rh13t8m3onag10g1dnuga5nnf |access-date=4 September 2020 |work=Goal |date=29 August 2020 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Se confirmaron 11 casos de coronavirus en el fútbol argentino tras los exámenes antes de reiniciar los entrenamientos |url=https://www.infobae.com/deportes/2020/08/09/se-confirmaron-seis-casos-de-coronavirus-en-el-futbol-argentino-tras-los-examenes-antes-de-reiniciar-los-entrenamientos/ |access-date=4 September 2020 |work=Infobae |date=8 August 2020}}

On 18 August 2021, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Matías Lammens, announced that football with spectators would return between late September and early October, with sporting venues limited to reach 30 percent capacity.{{cite news|title=Lammens: Fans can return to football stadiums 'in September or October'|url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/sports/lammens-fans-can-return-to-football-stadiums-in-september-or-october.phtml|work=Buenos Aires Times (Perfil)|date=18 August 2021}}

{{Main|Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina}}

• COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory
• COVID-19 pandemic in South America
• COVID-19 misinformation
• 2020 in Argentina
• 2021 in Argentina
• COVID-19 vaccination in Argentina
• Living with COVID-19

• [https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6 COVID-19 Global Cases] and [https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 historical data] by Johns Hopkins University.

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Category:Disease outbreaks in Argentina

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