Seite - 529 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

529“Flattening the Curve” Through COVID-19 Contagion Containment decree a day after the WHO declared a global pandemic, over a week after Argentina’s first case was confirmed on March 3. The measures include a mandatory “stay in shelter” lockdown, with those violating the order facing harsh penalties and other “social, preventive isolation” measures. The mandatory lockdown has been extended to June 28 in Buenos Aires and some other parts of the country, with nation-wide “mandatory and preventive social distancing” remaining in place. All arrivals from COVID-19 hot spots have to be quarantined for 14 days, regardless of nationality. All direct flights between Argentina and the U.S., as well as Europe, were suspended for 30 days from March 17, now extended indefinitely. As infections surge in neigh- bouring Brazil, the government has set up secure corridors in border provinces, allowing Brazilian drivers to access bathrooms, get food, and unload products, with minimal contact with Argentines. A patchwork of regional and national laws without much coher- ence has resulted in very inequitable and fragmented health care cov- erage in Argentina. The new government, from December 2019, of left-populist President Alberto Fernandez reversed the previous Macri government’s severe austerity measures under an IMF program, and the demotion of the Health Minister to a non-cabinet position, which had further undermined its already debilitated health “non-system”. The new government inherited an economy already deep in recession, with gross public debt around 93.3% of the 2019 GDP, annual inflation over 50%, poverty above 40%, unemployment at almost 10%, and the Argentine peso having lost 68% of its value in 2019. Thus, having to lock down an economy in recession, Argentina’s policy choice captures the cruel dilemma COVID-19 has posed for people and governments to choose between lives and livelihoods. After taking office, Fernandez initially increased progressive taxation to balance the budget to restore growth, rather than to pay foreign creditors. Instead of reducing social expenditure, he has cut spending benefiting the wealthy. Argentina initially committed around 2% of GDP to an economic and social relief package, ensuring that essential services for retirees, social welfare recipients, and households earning less than about US$520 are not cut due to non-payment. As the lockdown continues, Argentina’s economic relief package had grown to 3.5% of GDP by April’s end. The administration has made every employer eligible for emer- gency aid, postponed or reduced taxes on small businesses by up