COVID-19 In Argentina Reaches 3 Million Cases: Doctors Urge Vaccinations, Hospitals Are Full

JAKARTA - The Argentine Ministry of Health announced that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 3.005.259 cases on Sunday, May 2 yesterday.

Cited from Reuters, Monday, May 3, Argentina's Ministry of Health said there were an additional 11.394 new cases of COVID-19 infection reported in the past 24 hours.

That was followed by a new record daily death report, where there were 156 deaths, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 in Argentina to 64.252.

Argentina under the Government of President Alberto Fernandez decided to implement tightening measures last week, as the second wave of COVID-19 resulted in full-fledged intensive care. However, doctors and medical circles think that this step is not enough.

"People need to be more vigilant and know that hospitals are full and health workers are exhausted", said Luciana Berti, a 41-year-old surgical assistant.

Meanwhile, Argentine pediatrician Carlos Kambourian said the key was to speed up the stalled vaccination campaign. Otherwise, he warned, the hospital would be overwhelmed. Intensive care beds are about 68.1 percent occupied nationwide, government data show.

"Currently the health system does not support one more patient. It's overflowing", he said.

"We can continue to extend the steps every 15 days from here to two years from now if we don't do what needs to be done, which is testing and vaccinating", he said.

To note, Argentina has experienced a recession in three consecutive years, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic since last year. Efforts to contain a pandemic should be balanced with efforts to restore the economy.