Supported by the predominance of the omicron variant, which tends not to affect those vaccinated with the most severe form of Covid-19, the Argentine government decided to make the health protocol for entry into the country more flexible.
The measures published in the Official Gazette at dawn on Wednesday (26) establish that, as of Saturday (29), Argentines and residents, but also Brazilians, Uruguayans, Paraguayans, Bolivians and Chileans who have been fully vaccinated for more than 14 days will be able to enter Argentina without Covid-19 tests, whether PCR or antigen tests. These beneficiaries will also be exempt from a preventive quarantine.
The government wants to facilitate the entry of Brazilians, foreign tourists who visit Argentina the most and also those who spend the most in the country.
“At high transmissibility [da ômicron] makes the current number of cases higher than the highest number of cases ever recorded since the beginning of the pandemic, with no correlation, so far, with hospitalizations in Intensive Care Units or with deaths “, reads the Administrative Decision. text informs that the ômicron already accounts for 84.4% of the contaminations, while the delta variant is present in 15.6% of the cases registered daily in the country.
Fewer requirements for vaccinated
Until now, entry into the country was allowed for Argentines and foreign residents, as well as foreign tourists, but everyone had to present a complete vaccination schedule and a negative PCR test, carried out up to 72 hours before departure. They should also be quarantined and submit a second PCR between the third and fifth day after entering the territory.
From Saturday, for those who are fully vaccinated, it will only be necessary to fill out online, up to 48 hours before the start of the trip, a form with the value of a sworn declaration to which it will be necessary to attach a scanned copy of the vaccination certificate. In the case of tourists, it will also be necessary to present an international health insurance with coverage provided for Covid-19.
Unvaccinated will be able to enter
The measures also include those who are not fully or partially vaccinated. If you are an Argentine or a foreigner residing without any dose or with only one dose taken, the person can enter Argentina, but will have to present a negative PCR test, carried out no later than 72 hours before the start of the trip, or an antigen test, within the previous 48 hours.
Until now, the only possible proof was a PCR. The protocol now incorporates the possibility of an antigen test, popularly known as “rapid test”, cheaper and easier to access.
In the case of unvaccinated individuals or those with an incomplete immunization schedule, a quarantine period of seven days will be mandatory, starting from the day of the test. A retest will not be required after this deadline.
If the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated person is a foreign tourist, in addition to the requirement for a PCR test or negative rapid test, and a seven-day quarantine, it will also be necessary to obtain a “vaccination exception” and have health insurance. international fight against Covid-19. The “vaccination exception” must be obtained from the competent immigration authorities or through a certification issued by an Argentine consulate.
Little change for non-neighboring foreigners
If the foreigner is from a country that does not have a border with Argentina, even if he has had the complete vaccination schedule for more than 14 days, the requirements are slightly flexible.
Proof of non-infection is still required, but the option of a rapid test appears up to 48 hours before the start of the trip and the previous option of a PCR test performed up to 72 hours before arrival in the country remains. Quarantine is no longer necessary, nor is a new test performed between the third and fifth day after entering Argentine territory.
The foreigner who is not fully vaccinated enters the list of contemplations, but will need to obtain the “vaccination exception”. In this case, you must complete seven days of quarantine, from the date of the test.
Flexibility for minors
Minors who do not have the complete vaccination schedule will be able to enter Argentina with a Covid-19 test and will be exempted from quarantine. These minors will be advised not to participate in group activities during the first seven days after arrival in Argentina. Children under 6 years of age are exempt from testing.
Anyone who has a positive test can enter Argentina after 10 days from the test date, as long as they present a medical discharge certificate and are within 90 days of the positive diagnosis.
In the last 24 hours, Argentina recorded 100,863 new cases of coronavirus. In the accumulated since the beginning of the pandemic, there are 8 million infected, of which 119,703 died, 260 in the last hours.
The occupancy of intensive care beds reaches 48.7% in the country. At the beginning of the month, they were 37%.
