Argentina has surpassed 75,000 deaths due to COVID-19 as its health system collapses, with a lack of medical care for patients with the disease for the first time since the pandemic began. The daily average of deaths in the last seven days is 470.

With 44.9 million inhabitants, the country has 3,586,736 infected and 75,056 deaths by COVID-19, according to data from Our World in Data. Argentina is the fifth country in Latin America with the most deaths per million inhabitants (1,661), behind Brazil (2,127), Peru (2,077), Mexico (1,722) and Colombia (1,684).

Because of the worsening of the pandemic and the health system situation, the federal government decreed a lockdown until May 30; only activities considered essential are allowed. Restriction measures cover the metropolitan area of ​​Buenos Aires, Rosario, Santa Fé, Córdoba and Mendoza. In addition, the government has also closed 11 of the 17 main entrances to Buenos Aires; a government authorization is required to enter or leave the city.

Argentina started vaccination in December and has already vaccinated 8.8 million people (with at least one dose). The slow pace of vaccination and the delay in delivering 10 million doses of Sputnik V has sparked much criticism about the government.