Stories for April 20th 2021

Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 23:28 UTC
Covid-19: Health official admits Argentina might need to extend restrictions beyond April 30

A high ranking official within Argentina's Health Ministry Tuesday hinted the current restrictions on circulation and business hours might need “to be extended” because of the spread of the coronavirus' second wave.
Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 17:29 UTC
France to impose € 1,500 fine to South American travelers who skip quarantine

A ten-day mandatory quarantine for travellers arriving into France from South America, namely from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and French Guiana as well as from South Africa, shall be effective as of this coming Saturday, said French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune.
Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 15:02 UTC
Big Pharma companies gross 152bn dollars since the beginning of the pandemic

Despite setbacks with patients dying or suffering from undesired side effects which led to the suspension of some vaccines in various countries, the market value of pharmaceutical companies continues to rise, having amassed 152 billion US dollars in profits since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, it was reported.
Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 10:45 UTC
Brazil's Anvisa green-lights studies of new Chinese covid-19 vaccine

Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has given the green light to clinical trials on volunteers of a potential anti-Covid-19 vaccine produced by the Chinese laboratory Sichuan Clover Biopharmaceuticals, it was announced.
Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 10:30 UTC
Uruguay leads freedom of press in South America; Brazil falls down to red zone in RSF ratings

With no South American country among the top 12, the Non-Government Organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF - the acronym for Reporters sans frontières) Monday lowered Brazil's freedom of the press rankings to 111th, thus placing it within the red zone.
Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 10:24 UTC
Chile's SQM to supply lithium to Johnson Matthey for electric car batteries

The Chilean Chemical and Mining Society (SQM), one of the world's largest lithium producers, will supply lithium hydroxide to the British firm Johnson Matthey, at least until 2028, according to a new contract signed on Monday, it was announced.
Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 10:05 UTC
Argentina's Supreme Court claims original jurisdiction in face-to-face schooling issue

Argentina's Supreme Court Monday ruled that the issue concerning the City of Buenos Aires' objection to the presidential decree banning on-site schooling until April 30 falls under its very own original jurisdiction as per Article 117 of the Constitution, thus rendering void all previous resolutions by any lower tribunal into that matter.
Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 08:42 UTC
Panama sets new measures for South American air travelers

Travellers arriving by aeroplane in Panama having stayed in South America for 15 days or more will have to follow the new anti-covid-19 protocols in force since Monday, health and immigration authorities announced.
Tuesday, April 20th 2021 - 05:28 UTC
Former US Vice President Walter “Fritz” Mondale dies aged 93

Former US Vice President Walter Mondale (1977-1981) has died in Minneapolis, at the age of 93, his family confirmed. No cause was given.