Virus surge forces Sao Paulo to shut as Buenos Aires reopen

[MilHojas]

Virus surge forces Sao Paulo to shut as Buenos Aires reopens

SAO PAULO (AP) — A swell of COVID-19 cases is halting samba steps in Brazil's biggest metropolis while Argentina's capital tiptoes its way back to the tango floor. The two biggest cities in each of the neighboring South American countries are headed in opposite directions, reflecting how those...

apnews.com

 

[antipodean]

Let’s not get complacent and celebrate this momentary lull just yet. Many Argentines have been at the beach or on their patio at home rather than at work and involved in normal routines these last few months. Now everyone is getting back to their routines, the risk increases. As the weather gets chillier people will also take their social lives inside from the quincho and surely cases will rise again. The rate of vaccination is currently too slow and too diluted to really be seen as a mitigating factor just yet - but perhaps the fact that on official count about 1 in every 20 people (or up 1 in every 4 if some unofficial estimates are to be believed...) have had COVID already means that a large chunk of these people may still have some immunity and be slowing the impact of the outbreak?

That said, it’s not like SP state has been without strict protocols over the past 3 or 4 months... a cultural factor probably has a little to do with it along with the fact that Argentina has almost 100% more hospital beds per 1000 people than Brazil (or the USA) may help to make the impact here look less scary but looking at infections and deaths per 100.000 over the pandemic as a whole, Argentina is downright scary.

 

[camberiu]

Let’s not get complacent and celebrate this momentary lull just yet.

Exactly. Cases in Brazil kinda stabilized late last year, people became complacent, then there were the summer holidays and Carnaval, and now the chickens are coming home to roost. The same could happen to Argentina if people start celebrating too soon.