News of coronavirus

Brazilian Senate to probe Bolsonaro's handling of pandemic

09-04-2021 11:55 A judge from Brazil's supreme court on Thursday ordered the Senate to create a commission to investigate President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic, after requests from 32 of Brazil's 81 senators.

European rights court backs obligatory vaccinations

08-04-2021 16:03 The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday that democratic governments can make vaccinations obligatory, in what experts have described as a blow to so-called "anti-vax" movements.

Buenos Aires bankers’ return to office imperiled by Covid surge

07-04-2021 17:07 Several of Argentina’s largest banks succeeded at getting more employees back to headquarters as the virus toll abated in South America’s second-biggest economy. A rising case count now puts that path into question.

Doctor warns Argentina could be facing '35,000 cases daily' in next few months

07-04-2021 15:48 Paediatrician and former director of Garrahan children's hospital, Carlos Kambourian, raises concerns over surge in Covid-19 infections in Argentina, the difficulties in implementing measures and the strain on the local healthcare system.

Bogotá to impose lockdown as Covid-19 cases rise in Colombia

06-04-2021 15:05 A third wave of coronavirus in Colombia has led to a tightening of sanitary policies, including the implementation of a three-day lockdown in the capital Bogotá over the weekend.

Vizzotti calls for 'three weeks of effort' as second wave arrives

06-04-2021 14:51 Argentina needs “three weeks of greater effort" by citizens and institutions to reduce infections, Health Minister Carla Vizzotti said Tuesday, describing the so-called 'second wave' as "already a fact."

Fernández says Putin ‘committed’ to increasing Sputnik V supply

05-04-2021 17:42 Russian President Vladimir Putin calls Alberto Fernández – who was diagnosed with Covid-19 over the weekend – by phone to talk about vaccination scheme and check on Argentine leader’s health.

Less growth, higher deficit – potential impact of ‘second wave’ lockdown

05-04-2021 16:15 Productive Development Minister Matías Kulfas has ruled out a repeat of 2020’s dramatic shutdown of economic activity; Economists predict that further restrictions would seriously damage rebound.

by Mirta Fernandez

Vaccination plan advances but with difficulties, as second wave nears

03-04-2021 07:57 Confirmed cases now total 2.37 million, with more than 56,000 fatalities. To date, more than four million vaccines have been given.

President Alberto Fernández in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19

03-04-2021 00:45 President Alberto Fernández has gone into isolation with suspected Covid-19 and is awaiting the result of a PCR test to confirm if he has the virus or not.

Cinema makes a comeback, aiding Argentina’s vaccination drive

01-04-2021 17:42 At a movie theatre turned culture centre in Rosario, lucky retirees are getting vaccinated against Covid-19 – and enjoying a few Charles Chaplin movies.

Chile closes borders for April as Covid cases rise

01-04-2021 15:11 With new virus variants, believed to be more contagious, spreading across the continent, cases have been soaring in Chile despite its vaccination drive.

Brazil military chiefs exit in new turmoil for Bolsonaro

30-03-2021 20:36 Three commanders of Armed Forces out, confirms Bolsonaro government. Some Brazilian media reports trio had resigned in protest at president's surprise decision to replace defence minister Fernando Azevedo as part of a sweeping reshuffle.

Economic activity up 1.9% in January on previous month

30-03-2021 20:24 Economic activity fell 2% from January 2020, but rose 1.9% when compared to December last year the fastest pace in four months.

Chile president proposes delaying election on new constitution

29-03-2021 19:28 Chilean President Sebastián Piñera on Sunday proposed delaying elections that will choose a commission to rewrite the country's dictatorship-era constitution, due to a surge in Covid-19 infections.

'Oil for vaccines,' offers Venezuela's Maduro as Covid bites

29-03-2021 14:07 As a second wave of coronavirus takes Venezuela by storm, president Nicolas Maduro offers to exchange "oil for vaccines."

Brazil surpasses 300,000 Covid-19 deaths

25-03-2021 14:50 A total of 300,685 people in Brazil have now died of Covid-19, with Argentina's giant neighbour struggling to deal with an explosion of cases blamed on a local variant of the virus that is believed to be more contagious.

Venezuela won't accept AstraZeneca vaccine through Covax

25-03-2021 14:47 Venezuela informs the Pan American Health Organisation it will not accept the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite having ordered between 1.4 and 2.4 million doses of it through Covax.

In Brazil, Covid is increasingly hitting the young

23-03-2021 10:10 There are fewer wrinkles and less grey hair among patients in Brazil's intensive care units as the country reels from a surge in Covid-19 that is increasingly hitting people under 60.

Debt restructuring talks for Buenos Aires Province stall

22-03-2021 16:23 After nearly a year of extending the deadline of its debt restructuring proposal, fresh documents published by Argentina’s largest province show talks remain stuck.