Argentina to extend quarantine until April 12

The president of Argentina announced Sunday night that the country will remain in total quarantine until April 12 in order to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"We are going to extend the quarantine until Easter ends," Alberto Fernández announced on a televised broadcast, after receiving the advice of the committee of experts in health and scientists that unanimously recommended that he extend the total quarantine in the country.

Fernández said that in comparison with other countries who reacted later to pandemic, Argentina is doing well.

He also warned the business community that he would be very hard on those who break price agreements and those who fire people.

Argentina has 820 infected and 20 deaths due to the coronavirus.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

The new coronavirus has caused a global pandemic that has sickened at least 720,000, killed 33,000 worldwide, crippled economies and forced restrictions on the movement of millions of people in an effort to stop the virus from spreading further and overwhelming health care systems.