From the earliest days after the appearance of the COVID-19 virus in Argentina, President Fernández has demonstrated remarkable focus and strong leadership in assessing the threat of the virus and in taking decisive action in response. More than almost any other leader in the region, Fernández decided almost immediately to take drastic methods to limit the entry and the spread of the virus in the country. On March 16, he ordered the immediate suspension of all scheduled flights from Europe, Asia, and North America, along with mandatory self-quarantine for all travelers returning from these destinations. Only four days later, on March 20, the Argentine government announced an immediate country-wide mandatory quarantine that stopped almost all movement into the country, one of the most drastic measures taken by any country in the region. Despite these strict measures, in many locations around the country there have been large numbers of people who have ignored the quarantine. The government has responded strongly against anyone violating the quarantine, having warned, detained, or arrested over 10,000 persons in the first three days since the measure was announced. There is speculation that the country may declare a “state of siege” to reinforce the quarantine orders.
