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Argentine president's test shows Covid-19; awaits confirmation
Argentine President Alberto Fernández says he had an initial positive test for COVID-19, despite having been vaccinated in January.
Fernández sent a tweet late Friday saying took a quick antigen test for the virus after feeling a headache and experiencing a fever of 37.3 Celsius (99.1 Fahrenheit). He said he otherwise has light symptoms, is isolating and is "physically well."
He said he is awaiting a confirmation of the result using a more rigorous PCR test.
Also read: Global Covid cases top 130 million
The president received a dose of the Sputnik V vaccine on Jan. 21 and a second dose a few days later.
The Russian Gamaleya Institute that produced the vaccine tweeted that it wished the president a quick recovery, and said the vaccine has a 91.6% rate of effectiveness against infection and 100% against critical cases.
Also read: Incumbent president concedes defeat in Argentine presidential election
"If the infection is confirmed and occurred, the vaccination assures a rapid recovery without severe symptoms," it said.
Argentina recently tightened border restrictions due to an upsurge in cases. The nation of some 45 million people has recorded nearly 2.4 million infections, with 56,000 deaths. It has administed more than 4 million doses of vaccine against the disease.
Brazil becomes 2nd nation to top 300,000 COVID-19 deaths
Brazil topped 300,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, becoming the second country to do so amid a spike in infections that has seen the South American country report record death tolls in recent days.
The United States reached the grim milestone on Dec. 14, but has a larger population than Brazil.
On Wednesday, Brazil’s health ministry reported 2,009 daily COVID-19 deaths, bringing its pandemic total to 300,685. On Tuesday, the country saw a single-day record of 3,251 deaths.
Also Read: Brazil reports 37,614 new COVID-19 cases
According to local media reports, the latest coronavirus figures might be affected by changes in the government’s counting system. Newly appointed Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said in a press conference that he was going to check whether the numbers had been artificially reduced.
With daily death tolls at pandemic highs, state governors and mayors in Brazil have expressed fears that April could be as bad as March for the country’s overwhelmed hospitals.
Just in the past 75 days, Brazil has registered 100,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths, a spike health experts blame on a lack of political coordination in fighting the virus, new variants that spread more easily and a disregard for health protocols.
President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday held a meeting with the heads of other government branches to coordinate anti-virus efforts. But he didn’t propose any policies to deal with the pandemic.
Bolsonaro has consistently downplayed the severity of the pandemic, insisting the economy must be kept humming to prevent worse hardship, and he has criticized health measures imposed by local leaders.
Mexico tops 155,000 COVID-19 deaths, may be 3rd highest
Mexico reached 155,145 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 Thursday, which would make it the country with the world’s third-highest total, passing India’s death toll of 153,847.
Brazil receives vaccine cargo from India amid supply concern
Brazil’s government on Friday received 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from India, but experts warned the shipment will do little to shore up an insufficient supply in South America’s biggest nation.
Venezuela’s Maduro sends oxygen to Brazil amid virus spike
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has authorized the dispatch of oxygen to Brazil to help its South American neighbor treat people sickened amid another wave of the coronavirus, despite frosty relations between the two governments and Venezuela’s own lack of hospital supplies.
Argentine Senate approves bill legalizing abortion
Argentina’s Senate passed a law legalizing abortion early Wednesday after a marathon 12-hour session, a victory for the women’s movement that has been fighting for the right for decades.
Mexico starts giving first shots of Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine
An intensive care nurse in Mexico City on Thursday became the first person in Latin America to receive an approved coronavirus vaccine.
Brazil reports 37,614 new COVID-19 cases
The Brazilian Ministry of Health on Thursday reported 37,614 new COVID-19 cases with 691 more deaths, raising the national count to 6,204,220 with 171,460 deaths.
Tearful thousands bid farewell to Maradona in Argentina
Tens of thousands of fans, many weeping but eager to honor Diego Maradona, filed past the coffin of Argentina’s most iconic soccer star on Thursday, some confronting police who tried to maintain order at the country’s presidential mansion.
Covid-19: Brazil's president tests positive for third time but 'in good condition'
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro again tested positive for the novel coronavirus, said the president's office on Wednesday.