BUENOS AIRES – Economy Minister Martin Guzman and other Argentine officials were placed in preventive isolation yesterday after a member of a visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission tested positive for Covid-19, said the government.
The IMF team has been here since Tuesday for talks on a new rescue package for the crisis-ravaged South American nation.
“All of those who had meetings with the IMF team are isolated and will be tested according to established protocols,” said the government in a statement, adding that none of the Argentine officials has shown symptoms of the disease.
IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said earlier in New York that one of the eight members of the IMF mission tested positive during routine screening on Saturday.
He said the member will be tested again to confirm the initial finding.
“Upon learning the results... the team immediately informed Argentine authorities and went into self-isolation.
“The IMF team, in coordination with the authorities, also initiated contact-tracing protocols to advise all persons with whom the IMF team met over the past week about the positive test.
“The team will continue its work and will hold any further meetings virtually.”
Rice said the affected IMF team member is asymptomatic and feeling well.
Among the Argentine officials who are self-isolating are central bank chief Miguel Pesce and Congress Speaker Sergio Massa.
President Alberto Fernandez has been in self-isolation since Wednesday after an official with whom he had contact tested positive for Covid-19.
Argentina’s 44 million population has been badly hit by the coronavirus, with more than 1.3 million cases and 35,300 deaths. – AFP, November 16, 2020
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