President Alberto Fernández announced on Wednesday on a televised message, that Argentina "has entered the second wave of the pandemic". From Olivos Residence, he informed measures adopted by the Federal Government, which will come into effect from Friday 9 April.

Fernandez - who is currently recovering from COVID - said that "group trips" will be suspended and that in the areas of greatest epidemiological risk - the city and province of Buenos Aires, Cordoba and other large urban centres - night-time traffic will be restricted from midnight to 6am.

"The next three weeks are key" to slowing down the rate of coronavirus infections, the President said. He also announced that gatherings in private homes and outdoors for more than 20 people will be banned, as well as bingo halls and dance clubs, whereas bars and restaurants will have to close at 11pm.

Sports activities will not be allowed indoors for more than 20 people at a time, and in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area there will be restrictions on the use of public transport, which will be restricted to essential personnel only.