Government closes all border crossings until March 31

The government ordered the closure of all borders from midnight Thursday until Tuesday, March 31, shutting off all access to the country to both citizens and visitors in a bid to halt the advance of the coronavirus outbreak.

The move tightens the measures President Alberto Fernández put in place on March 16, when he closed the nation to all foreign non-residents. Argentines and foreign residents, however, had still been allowed to return. Officials said a decree would be published in the Official

Gazette on Friday morning and that it will contain only very strict exceptions. It would affect “persons residing in the country and Argentines and Argentines residing abroad.”

Speaking Thursday, Defence Minister Agustín Rossi said the government had ordered the closure of all the country’s air, land and maritime borders, effective from the first minute of Friday. He said that the shutdown of the air system had already been established, but now the block was to be extended to land and sea crossings as well.

The minister clarified that “we are going to regulate” the exceptions and coordinate the return of Argentines and Argentine residents who remain abroad.

On Friday, the opposition PRO party called on the government to repatriate those citizens still overseas who wish to return home, via a post on Twitter. The Presidency responded in a statement that officials would address the issue on a “case-by-case” basis.

Exemptions to the closure will be granted to those involved in the “transfer of merchandise for international trade operations” and those who transport cargo, as well as pilots, captains and crew on ships and aircraft. Individuals “affected by the operation of flights and medical transfers” are also reportedly exempt.

Rossi argued that President Alberto Fernández was closing loopholes with the move, as he had already blocked travellers from entering Argentina.

He added that “the only possible measure” to protect against the coronavirus is “isolation, not having social contact.”

“We look at what is happening around the world and we make decisions based on countries that have had better results, those that have been more successful with drastic and forceful measures,” he said.

Officials said citizens or permanent residents concerned about the closure who remain abroad should contact their local Argentine consulate or embassy for more information.