First 'non-imported' cases of coronavirus confirmed; total hits 30

Nine new individuals have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Argentina to 30.

The news was confirmed to Noticias Argentinas by government officials within the last hour, who said that new diagnoses had been made in the provinces of Córdoba, Chaco, Entre Ríos and Buenos Aires City.

Chaco's Health Ministry confirmed two new cases of coronavirus had been diagnosed.

According to the La Nación daily, at least four of the nine new diganoses are considered "non-imported" – i.e. not a result of someone having previously travelled to countries with high rates of infection. This represents the first instance of community transmission of the respiratory virus.

The newspaper said the four individuals had not travelled overseas and had contracted the virus by being in "close contact" with people who had been infected while abroad.

With cases beginning to rise, Axel Kicillof, governor of Buenos Aires Provinve, declared a health emergency in the province of Buenos Aires for 180 days.

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL