Argentina extends COVID-19 measures as cases mount

Argentine President Alberto Fernández on Friday announced a three-week extension of COVID-19 restrictions in Buenos Aires.

The measures already in place in the capital and its surrounding metropolitan area include a night-time curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as well as the suspension of face-to-face teaching.

Buenos Aires is at the centre of Argentina's latest wave of coronavirus infections.

In a recorded message, Fernández extended the restrictions through to May 21 as he said the situation was "critical".

Nationwide measures include the suspension of group study and tourist trips, as well as limits on social gatherings of more than 10 people and work attendance for people at risk.

For the areas of "epidemiological and health alarm" such as Buenos Aires and 40 surrounding towns, in-person education remains halted and shops must close at 7 p.m.

Businesses which serve food can serve customers outside during the day but must be takeaway only after 8 p.m.

Public transport will be only for essential workers.

The latest wave of virus cases in Argentina has put the most stress on public and private hospitals in Buenos Aires and its urban belt while the vaccination rollout continues at a slow pace.

In the capital, 86% of the beds in public hospitals are occupied.

At the national level, the average is 68.4% in both the public and private healthcare systems.

So far 7.8 million people have received one dose of the vaccine - out of 45 million - with less than a million having completed both doses.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Argentina has registered 2.9 million cases of the virus and more than 63,500 deaths linked to COVID-19.