At Casa Rosada, they want to avoid massive shutdowns that are hurting the economy Credit: Presidency
A spokesperson for the president says: “Until now, the epidemic has been managed. It will continue to be managed.” Alberto Fernandez, In the last hours of January that brought with it official frustration of the delay, so far without deadlines, in the original vaccination plan, which for this month included 5 million Sputnik V vaccines of Moscow origin, which will not be present.
Beyond setbacks and uncertainty, there is a certainty in government: going back in time Closure or quarantine Strict nationwide is nothing short of impossible. And if the arrival of winter – and with it the inevitable rise in cases, as it did in Europe and the United States – coincides with a prolonged absence of adequate vaccines, Casa Rosada will consider “alternatives”. There they appear as closing options by neighborhoods, where buds appear, and even by lumps. In the government, they estimate that the specific shutdowns would avoid a debilitating economic slowdown that, according to Economy Ministry figures, has shown signs of recovery, even with inflation as the sword of Damocles lurking.
“For these months we have three goals: vaccination, economic recovery and being in the classroom.”Two important government spokesmen agree. And it immediately indicates a path of vents, if you do not mediate a health disaster, there will be no turning back.
An official source says: “None of the economic sectors that opened again have been closed.” It gives successful examples of auto companies, which adhered to protocols and kept operating despite the sudden rise in injuries. And also a “rebirth” of gastronomy and even theaters “which also opened but people do not go” for fear of infection.
“Every sector is adapting,” repeats another official, “and in the winter we hope that millions will be vaccinated already. If this does not happen, we will have to look for alternatives,” with a partial closure between the assumptions that are being treated in reserve. The “light” and delicate closures implemented by the German Chancellor Angela MerkelAnd official sources – who spoke with the president this week – commented that it is “one of the options” that would be dealt with in the event of a resurgence in the future.
Aside from the “delays” that Russian health authorities have recognized after shipping 220,000 doses of Sputnik vaccine, in the middle of the week, no one wants to load ink or announce litigation with Russia like the one led by the European Union against laboratories (Pfizer and Moderna, per case ) That did not comply with the contracts to supply the antidote. “This is like buying an apartment in a well. If they don’t turn it over to you on time, are you going to be sued? What you want is for them to give it to you as soon as possible to get a home,” said a graph. From the Ministry of Health that chairs Genius Gonzalez Garcia They reiterate that they will eagerly await the arrival of “millions” of additional Russian vaccines during the month of February, while awaiting additional “help” from the World Health Organization (WHO) from the Kovax consortium (a promise of nine million doses may arrive in February) and the “normalization” of AstraZeneca, which promised With 22 million doses for the month of March despite the delay and complexity of the offer, another official source says, with a mixture of conviction and hope, “in February, many vaccines will begin to appear,” and put some additional chips in negotiations with the Chinese company Sinopharm, led by the ambassador. Sabino Vaca NarvagaAnd in restoring relations with Pfizer, a complex relationship that is trying to float it, with the confidence of the President, and the Secretary of Legal and Technical Affairs, Velma Ibarra.
The new extension of the spacing to February 28 included for the first time a return to the classroom, a new reality that Casa Rosada accepts as inevitable but full of risks. “Desire is one thing, certainty is another,” says one of the key officials. “The certainty that children and their parents will not be infected.” He repeated this week that “the vaccine will allow us to have immunity, but until that happens we have the protocols.” Nation Minister of Education , Nicholas TrottaWhich adheres to the beginning of classes even despite opposition from the unions and its center in the city of Buenos Aires.
A spokesperson summed up: “We had no problems with supplies or ventilators. We spent the end of the year without major struggles. Holidays passed and cases collapsed, we are all tied again. Hopefully we will continue like this.” Optimism in front of a horizon full of dark clouds.
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