Coronavirus claims first Latin American life: 65 year-old man from Argentina dies
Argentine health authorities report that a 65 year-old man, a resident of Buenos Aires, died today as a result of coronavirus.
The victim, Guillermo Gómez, reportedly contracted the virus during a recent visit to France, from where he returned on February 25. The man suffered from poor health - including diabetes, hypertension, chronic bronchitis, and kidney failure.
Hospital sources state he first reported a high fever and flu-like symptoms on February 28, and was taken to Argerich Hospital, in the city's working-class southside, for treatment on March 5.
He thus becomes Latin America's first victim of the viral epidemic that originated in Wuhan, China - but which has since spread to over 100 countries.
A total of 8 cases have been reported in Argentina - all from individuals who had recently traveled to Italy, France, and/or Spain. The remaining cases are under hospital treatment, and are expected to recover.
Some 57 cases have been reported in nine Latin American nations as of March 7.
Argentine Health Minister Ginés González García ordered epidemic control protocols at Pistarini International Airport - the main point of entry for air-bound travel into Argentina - on January 31 for flights originating in China, and these protocols were extended to flight from Italy on February 25.
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Ambulance staff and onlookers are seen outside Buenos Aires' Argerich Hospital, where a 65 year-old diabetic man became the first Latin American victim of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic.
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How sad for him - and for his widow, whom I understand is now in observation.
That said, can you imagine if Signore Macri were still in office?
Since January, they've been finding shipping containers and storage units full of boxes of medicine and medical supplies - left to rot because Macri wouldn't spend the money to distribute them.
What could be recovered is now being distributed as fast as possible, And not a moment too soon: hospitals and clinics are reportedly seeing an influx of people with flus or colds - but who demand testing out of fear it might be Covid.
Health Ministry staff in a customs warehouse full of vaccines. They were almost expired when found, and are being distributed.
PAMI (Argentine Medicare) Director Luana Volnovich inspects abandoned medical supplies.
These boxes were part of the REMEDIAR free/subsidized medicine program, and have been sitting in a warehouse since 2017 at least - when Macri discontinued the program.
REMEDIAR was relaunched last week.
Mobile clinics, in semi-trailers, for use in remote areas (photo from 2015). The program was defunded, and many were abandoned in a Health Ministry lot - but they're now being put back in action.
