1. Government extends preventive, mandatory and social isolation measures

On Friday afternoon, President Alberto Fernández announced a new extension of the mandatory preventative social isolation measures through October 25th. On this occasion, he was joined by the governors of Jujuy, Santa Fe and Neuquén. During the announcement, the president once again asked for people to avoid social gatherings, and that, over the next two weeks, movement would be restricted in 18 departments. Later, he presented the distribution of cases by district and announced that cases in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area are on the decline. Fernández also highlighted the joint efforts and coordination among provincial governors to confront the pandemic with “sufficient medical and sanitary attention as needed.” Finally, the announcement was made official through Decree of Necessity and Urgency 792/20.

Infobae: Alberto Fernández anunció la restricción de la circulación en 18 provincias del país: “Creímos que el coronavirus era un problema que iba a quedar circunscripto al AMBA y eso no fue así”

2. President Fernández participated in IDEA Symposium

President Alberto Fernández presented at the 56th Institute for the Business Development of Argentina (IDEA), where he conveyed a message of calm to business leaders, emphasizing that the country’s problems relating to lack of currency was inherited from the previous government. In his speech, he sought to encourage investment, assuring that the country has already “hit rock bottom” and asked to put a “solidarity contribution” on capitalism, with a state that sets clear and precise rules. Additionally, he defended the justice reform carried out by his government and the shuffling of judges who were investigating acts of corruption during the government of now-Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Finally, he called on Argentines to recuperate democratic co-habitation and leave behind the country that “puts business leaders in one place and workers in another.”

La Nación: Alberto Fernández, en el coloquio de IDEA: “La Argentina estaba en terapia intensiva antes del coronavirus”

3. September inflation reaches 2.8% 

The Argentine statistical agency (INDEC) released its consumer price index, which revealed a 2.8% inflation rate for September. So far in 2020, the inflation rate has reached 22.3% and 36.6% since October 2019. According to the report, clothing, leather and footwear registered the highest uptick in prices (+5.8%), driven by seasonal factors. Nutrition and foods increased +3%, while smaller increases were observed in the education (+0.3%) and communications (+0.1%) sectors, the latter due to price freezes on phone and internet, which the government declared as “public services.”

Ámbito Financiero: La inflación fue del 2,8% en septiembre y la interanual bajó del 40%

4. Government announces resumption of flights for essential workers and medical necessities

Through Resolution 221/2020, published on Thursday, the Ministry of Transport lifted the suspension on commercial aerial transport services and general aviation. The measure was announced one day before by Minister Mario Meoni and Tourism and Sport Minister Matías Lammens at Jorge Newberry airport. Nonetheless, Meoni announced that, initially, these services could be used only by essential workers and people who must move for health reasons along with one additional person if needed. The intention of the government is that all domestic and international commercial flights operate regularly and are available for any passenger at the end of the year, according to Argentine civil aviation (ANAC) chief Paola Tamburelli, who was also present.

La Nación: “Aún no es para turistas”. Anuncian el regreso de los vuelos y colectivos de larga distancia

5. Senate begins nutritional labelling debate

On Wednesday the commissions of Health, and of Industry and Commerce in the upper house received Health Minister Ginés González García to discuss a proposal that would implement labels to warn consumers of foods with excessive sodium, fat and sugar in a similar manner to Chile. The minister expressed her support for the multi-partisan proposal to consolidate 13 different initiatives in a bid to combat overweightness and obesity. Additionally, Secretary of Nutrition at the Ministry of Agriculture, Marcelo Alós, as well as Secretary of Interior Commerce at the Ministry of Productive Development, Paula Español, participated in the meeting, highlighting the responsibilities of their respective departments in this matter. Finally, they announced they were also in discussions with the president of the nutrition business coordinating board, Daniel Funes de Rioja, and other industry representatives. 

Ámbito Financiero: El Senado comenzó a debatir el etiquetado frontal de alimentos con información nutricional