Is Covid Over in Argentina?

Is Covid over in Argentina or is Argentina just over Covid? These are the questions I've been asking myself over the last couple of days and the answer seems to be "yes" to both questions. 

The photo above was taken at the vaccination center called Pabellon Argentina, during the first week of February 2022. This was when I got my third shot. As you can see, the line was pretty long.

And the photo above was taken during the last week of March when the hubs went to Pabellon Argentina to receive his third shot. As you can see, there was virtually no line and no waiting. So with such a substantial drop in the number of people getting vaccinated, I started wondering how long the vaccination centers would remain open in Cordoba City .

Well, according to La Voz Del Interior, the three main vaccination centers in Cordoba City are set to close their doors soon. The city also plans to reduce the number of testing centers from 12 to 4 by April 30, 2022. 

In addition, Cordoba City is no longer requiring its citizens to wear their masks outdoors. Admittedly, most people weren't wearing their masks outdoor even when the Omicron variant was running rampant. So, this change in the health guidelines is more of a formality. People are still required to wear their masks indoors. However, in my observation, the Argentines who do bring their masks are using them as chin guards rather than masks. 

Recently, the hubs paid a visit to the Nuevo Centro Shopping Mall and discovered a few startling things. In addition to a large portion of the mall undergoing major renovations, the mall wasn't as packed as he had expected it to be.

Unfortunately, he discovered that while some people adhered to the "wear your masks indoors" rule, others, including mall employees, opted to keep their masks off.

So if the BA 2 sub variant does eventually spread, the locals are going to be in a lot of trouble. Speaking of the BA 2 sub variant; this latest Covid threat was detected in late March in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. Fortunately, it seems to be contained for the time being. And luckily, the rate of infection across Argentina has dropped dramatically. Don't believe me? Check it out! 

• Friday, March 25, 2022, there were 2,572 Covid cases in all of Argentina, of which 291 were in Cordoba Province.

• Saturday, March 26, 2022, there were 1,445 Covid cases in all of Argentina, of which 133 were in Cordoba Province.

• Monday, March 28, 2022, there were 2,655 Covid cases in all of Argentina, of which 322 were in Cordoba Province.

• Tuesday, March 29, 2022, there were 3,432 Covid cases in all of Argentina, of which 481 were in Cordoba Province.

• Friday, April 1, 2022, there were 1,927 Covid cases in all of Argentina, of which 185 were in Cordoba Province.

• Saturday, April 2, 2022, there were 802 Covid cases in all of Argentina, of which 30 were in Cordoba Province

• Sunday, April 3, 2022,  there were 484 Covid cases in all of Argentina, of which 12 were in Cordoba Province

That's really amazing considering that on January 6, 2022, there were 109,608 Covid cases in Argentina. With these promising numbers, it's safe to say that the Argentine government, their health ministry, and the population in general are all ready to say "Adios" to Covid 19. Even the travel restrictions have reportedly been lifted as the Covid threat continues to drop in the country. Hopefully, they don't regret being so lax in their precautions.

Now, I know what you're thinking. I'm being a Debbie Downer. Newsflash! I'm a realist, not an optimist. I've said this many times. But hopefully, Covid 19 is on its way to being nothing more than a historical footnote for the entire world.

Quick Expat Blog Update

Hi everyone! I'm sorry I've been MIA over the last couple of weeks, but I've been pretty busy adjusting to my new role as an online English teacher. 

I'll admit that I never really saw myself becoming a teacher mainly because I hated school as a kid. It's most likely why I limited my career to corporate business, finance, and eventually writing. But life is constantly pulling funny tricks on me, especially since the hubs and I moved to Argentina in 2012. Now, here I am. Just call me Professor George hahaha. But don't feel bad for me because I genuinely love teaching, and my students are extraordinary individuals!

In other news: The hubs and I recently celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary at Tucson Steak House, which is one of our favorite restaurants in Cordoba City. The menu prices definitely went up since the last time we ate here (in late 2020), and the ribs were a lot bonier than meaty. But the important thing is that we were able to go out (at last) and enjoy a nice meal together. 

We'll also be celebrating 21 years of being together this November. Now, some people have asked us how we've lasted this long, and I'm going to level with you. It hasn't always been a bed of roses. Sometimes, we love each other and sometimes we get on each other's nerves. This has been particularly true over the last two years as we've endured life in virtual seclusion because of the pandemic. We've broken up three times in the last (nearly) 21 years, but we've bounced back every time and with a better understanding of one another. On occasion, we've made some course corrections and discussed things to keep the relationship fresh and interesting. But to quote Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd--two of the most iconic lovers in TV history--we've promised "to love each other even when we hate each other." And neither one of us sees that ever changing.

As far as the blog is concerned, I still intend to pop up every now and then and post about things that are relevant to expat life in Argentina. So check back soon because I'll be posting about how Argentina is faring during the pandemic in 2022. Relax! It's actually good news for a change!

Until next time....