“We're on another path, the path of prosperity, not in the path of despair”, said Brazilian economy minister Paulo Guedes when asked about Argentina's decision to partially abandon Mercosur. It was also an opportunity for president Jair Bolsonaro to openly express support for his the “super” minister, who seemed strongly weakened following the forced resignation of the other “super” minister Sergio Moro.
Brazilian industrial confidence crashed to its lowest level on record in April, a survey showed as the lockdowns and sudden halt to swathes of activity lashed Latin America’s largest economy.
In the midst of the chaotic situation caused by the pandemic, the Argentine government announced the abandonment of Mercosur negotiations to prioritize the country’s domestic economy and the struggle against the virus. The rest of the bloc members must evaluate legal, institutional, and operational measures emerging from the decision.
Argentina will extend a mandatory nationwide quarantine period until May 10 in a bid to combat the advance of the coronavirus, President Alberto Fernandez announced on Saturday. The Argentine government-imposed shelter-in-place measure, in effect since mid-March, had been set to expire on Sunday.
Seventeen police officers in Peru have died after contracting novel coronavirus while enforcing the nation's pandemic lockdown, officials and state media said. Authorities admitted earlier this week that at least 1,300 officers had been infected by COVID-19.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to his Downing Street residence on Sunday after recovering from COVID-19, ready to take the helm again with pressure growing for the government to explain how it will ease a month-old coronavirus lockdown.
Brazilian stocks sank as much as 9.6%, and the Real slid to new lows on Friday as political turmoil in the country added to mounting concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, while risk aversion ravaged Latin American markets.
The number of COVID-19 tested positive cases at Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falkland Islands has risen by one to thirteen, following on the latest 16 swab test results received by KEMH from the UK.
The impact of COVID-19 on the seafood market and industry operations has been severe, confirmed fishing industry executives and a spokesperson for the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA).
While the Atlantic Airbridge between the Falkland Islands and Brize Norton continues to service normally and is crucial for sending swab tests to labs in the UK, the two commercial flights to the Islands, one from Chile and the most recent from Brazil remain suspended.