Coronavirus in Argentina: 105 deaths and 3,614 infections confirmed in the last 24 hours

The Ministry of Health of the Nation reported this Monday, March 21, 2022 that, in the last 24 hours, 105 deaths from coronavirus and 3,614 new infections were recorded. Thus, the total number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic rose to 9,011,367, while deaths total 127,599

Yesterday, Sunday, March 20, 11 deaths from coronavirus were recorded and it was the lowest figure of the year. In this context of a sustained drop in infections and with a national positivity rate of less than 10 per cent, the City Government, together with the Buenos Aires health portfolio, decided that, as of this Monday, pupils at all levels of CABA schools are freed from the obligation to wear the mask inside the classroom. However, many children and parents decided to continue using the mask as a measure of protection against the coronavirus.

This noon, the primary school students of School No. 3 Juana Manso, in the Belgrano neighborhood, left the institution mostly with their chinstrap on. When asked by Telam, Lucas (8), a student of this school, assured that “for now” he will continue to wear the mask even though it is no longer compulsory. In general, both parents and teachers who graduated from educational institutions also remained with their masks on, while the only ones who did not wear it were the children of the initial level.

For her part, Guillermina (15), a third-year student at Liceo No. 9 Santiago Derqui, assured that her school “has not yet announced anything”, although she trusted that they will do so as soon as the day of the late shift begins, which she attends. Before entering classes, the young woman said that although it is no longer compulsory, she will continue to wear her mask inside the school. “If it is optional, I will continue to use it because I live far from school and I travel by subway, where there are many people, so to take care of myself and my classmates I will continue to use it,” said the young woman in dialogue with Télam.

Last Friday, the head of government of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, explained that the decision was adopted due to “a much more favorable health situation”, in which “the infection rate is less than 1, the level of occupancy of intensive care beds is the lowest in the whole pandemic” and stressed also the “advance of the vaccination plan”.

Larreta explained that the decision does not cover teachers and assured that it seeks to “improve the socio-emotional well-being of children by recovering the dynamics in the classroom and the links with their teachers and their peers.”

On that day, the Minister of Education, Jaime Perczyk, announced earlier from Ushuaia, where the measure is also optional from today, that the mandatory use of the mask will be subject to the decision of each province.

Until Friday, the use of the mask was not mandatory for children in the initial level and up to the third grade of primary school and, on the other hand, all students in the fourth grade and above had to wear it inside the classroom, while for outdoor activities it was already optional for all levels.

However, ministers of health throughout the country on Friday reinforced the need to continue wearing the mask indoors and keep environments ventilated.

At the meeting of the Federal Health Council (COFESA) held last Friday, it was recommended “to continue the mandatory wearing of the mask including school settings given the time of year and the possible concomitant circulation of various respiratory viruses”.

In the same vein, it was requested to ensure adequate ventilation of environments, maintain frequent hand washing, and avoid going to work, educational or public places in the presence of symptoms. In addition, they agreed to suspend the mandatory compliance with the two-meter distance.

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