On April 8, Presidential Decree No. 235/2021 (the Decree) was published in the Official Gazette ordering, among other things, restrictions to the transportation of individuals and other measures to mitigate the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 Virus that causes the disease known as COVID-19.
The Decree orders that:
- Persons who are confirmed patients, suspected patients, or close contacts of COVID-19 patients are not allowed to circulate.
- Employers must encourage remote work for all qualifying individuals.
- Persons at higher risk of infection (over 60 years of age, pregnant women, persons included in so-called risk groups), as well as those who are essentially needed at home to care for children or teenagers, continue to be exempted from the duty to attend the workplace in person.
- The use of public transportation will be restricted to essential workers (defined locally as “individuals engaged in an essential activity”) and individuals undergoing medical treatment and their caretakers, as well as staff and students attending in-person classes and those required to receive vaccination.
- Senior year trips, retiree outings, educational outings, non-official sports competitions, and tour groups are suspended.
- Economic, industrial, commercial, and service activities may be performed provided approval of an operating protocol by the corresponding health authority.
- Casinos, bingos, night clubs, and event venues are suspended.
- Food venues will not be allowed to operate between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day.
- Individuals will not be allowed to circulate from midnight to six a.m. in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires and in areas of high sanitary-epidemiological risk.
The decree will be in force from April 9 through to April 30.