“They will see the entrance a little delayed, nothing more”

The government on Monday defended restrictions on Argentines who have traveled abroad amid growing concern from officials about the advance of the Delta variant, which puts local authorities on alert and has already seized traffic community of a good number of European countries. and even the United States.

“Some who were able to go on vacation will see their income a little delayed, nothing more“, he assured Bugle the national director of migration, Florencia Carignano, one of the spokespersons of the government for the defense of the measure which entered into force on Monday, and which limited to 600 the entry of Argentines from abroad through the airport of ‘Ezeiza.

On the first day of the restriction, put in place at least until July 9, date of expiry of the DNU formalized last week by the Government – its extension is almost a fact – the controversy was not slow to settle. and complaints from travelers have multiplied, fearing they will be stranded outside the country.

“I’m moving, trying to get back to my country and a few hours ago they canceled my flight to Buenos Aires,” Alejandro Zacarías, a 28-year-old chef, told this newspaper before boarding in Dallas, in the USA. , but not in Buenos Aires, but in Miami: he is among those affected by the new measures. He was traveling on American Airlines, he says they tried to solve the problem but “going back to Argentina is not an option”.

This is the case of Nicolás Merono, 38, who traveled from Bariloche in New Hampshire, near Boston, a week ago: “I did not come for tourism and I did not get vaccinated, c ‘was because of an emergency procedure. ” He has no certainty about his return.

His solo dos de los relatos de argentinos afectados por una resolución que provocó malestar en aquellos que en las últimas semanas o meses salieron del país por turismo, trabajo o estudios, en muchos casos para aplicarse la vacuna contra el COVID-19, especial en United States.

According to official information, the little more than 100,000 Argentines who have traveled in recent times Outside the country, 43% did so for tourism. That is to say about 45,000 passengers who, before leaving Argentina, signed by means of an affidavit the possibility of modifying their entry into the territory due to the pandemic which has held the world in suspense since the beginning of last year.

“We are setting quotas and we are asking the provinces to have the Argentinian re-entry places because we are very concerned about the Delta variant. And above all because we want to prioritize the support of economic, productive and educational activities so that it lasts, “Carignano added to this newspaper.

In the morning, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) filed a public complaint regarding the executive’s resolution, which directly impacts an area already affected by the pandemic and which, in recent months, had shown some recovery.

“Argentina is the only country with a daily passenger limitation. No other country has it,” said Peter Cerdá, regional vice president.

Executive statements forced Casa Rosada to publish a document with the list of countries – “a hundred” – with “open borders with restrictions due to the advance of COVID-19”.

According to official figures, the United States and Spain are the two most frequented destinations in recent times by Argentines who have decided to leave the country. In fact, of the only three flights allowed to return on Monday, two came from these places: Barcelona and Miami. The third was a Copa Airlines flight from Bogotá.

For this Tuesday, for example, the three flights authorized to land in Ezeiza will come from Miami, Madrid and the Colombian capital.

In this sense, the government explained to this newspaper that there will be no preference for Aerolineas Argentinas in operations. They even abounded as the state-owned company canceled 70% of flights until July 11. Out of 45 flights, 30 have already been canceled.

In the case of the United States, the preference is explained by tourism related to the application of doses. In the coming days, in fact, a box related to passenger vaccination will be added to the form. They noted, however, that this was a “census” and not because of the possible isolation measures planned by each jurisdiction.