Argentina’s government has extended the closure of its borders, extending a decree that prohibits non-resident foreigners from entering the country until the end of this month without special dispensation.
The decree – published in the Official Gazette on Monday and signed by Cabinet Chief Santiago Cafiero, Interior Minister Eduardo ‘Wado’ de Pedro and Health Minister Gines González García – prohibits entry through ports, airports and land border crossings, extending existing measures put in place to tackle the spread of Covid-19 in Argentina.
The prohibition was due to expire on January 31 and has now been extended throughout February. Flights are still authorised for citizens or residents seeking to leave the country for tourism, though the government said Monday that it recommends all Argentines – especially those aged over 60 or who are considered to be at-risk – refrain from non-essential travel.
“This measure extends the ban on entering national territory, until February 28, 2021
inclusive, for foreign persons who are not resident in the country, through ports, airports, international crossings, border centers and any other point of access, in order to
reduce the chances of contagion” of Covid-19, reads Article 30 of Decree 67/2021.
The government also confirmed in a statement that Argentina’s national aviation authority, ANAC, will “maintain its suspension of authorisations and permits that had been provided for
air transport operations of passengers and passengers on direct flights that have as origin or destination the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
The National Migration Department will also study flight schedules, with a view to limiting the number of passengers allowed into Argentina. The government recently cut the number of flights to tourist destinations in nations that have suffered high caseloads, including Brazil, Mexico, some European nations and the United States.
To date, Argentina has recorded more than 1.9 million confirmed cases of Covid-19, with more than 47,000 deaths.
– TIMES
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