Santiago Cafiero tested negative for coronavirus but will also not be at the opening of Congress sessions

The Chief of Staff, Santiago Cafiero, reported this Saturday that his coronavirus test was negative and does not present symptoms, after having been in close contact with the Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti, who contracted COVID-19 and remains in isolation.

“I received the result of the PCR that I performed yesterday: it is negative. I have no symptoms and I feel fine “Cafiero communicated on his social networks. In breaking the news, he also added that “Following protocol, I will not be present at the opening of Congress sessions”. “To take care of ourselves and others, let us continue to respect prevention measures,” he concluded his message.

Cafiero had to isolate himself yesterday for having shared activities with Vizzotti, who tested positive for coronavirus when tested with the rest of the Cabinet, as a requirement to attend the Legislative Assembly. They had been together in the car that took them to Ezeiza to receive the first doses of the Chinese vaccine.

Cafiero and Vizzotti were together when receiving the Chinese vaccines

The official ordered that all the ministers and secretaries who will attend the opening ceremony of ordinary sessions next Monday had to swab, to avoid a massive contagion in the act that will take place in the National Congress. Yesterday afternoon, the high command of the Government paraded through the Patio de las Palmeras in the direction of the Hall of Indigenous Peoples to take the test. Everyone came out with watery eyes from the impact of the hyssop. Minister Vizzotti swabbed herself shortly before 3 p.m.

Less than two hours later, it transpired that the result of the test of the holder of the sanitary portfolio had given him positive. Immediately, in addition to isolating herself, the new minister and cabinet chief officials began to review who were close contacts of Vizzotti in the last 48 hours. They concluded that Cafiero, his spokesperson and the driver, who traveled by car with the minister to Ezeiza, qualified as such last night for receive the first dose load of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.

The chancellor Felipe Solá, the owner of Aerolineas Argentinas, Pablo Ceriani, and the Chinese ambassador were also in the activity, but they are not considered close contacts because they maintained social distance, with the use of masks, outdoors. Neither President Alberto Fernández nor his entourage were in contact with the minister, so they should not isolate themselves.

Santiago Cafiero and Carla Vizzotti received the shipment in person

Anyway, Solá also took the test, as did the Labor ministers, Claudio Moroni; of Women and Genders, Elizabeth Gómez Alcorta; of Justice, Marcela losardo; Housing, Jorge Ferraresi; and Culture, Tristán Bauer.

The same was done by the president of National Radio and Public TV, Rosario Lufrano; the holder of AFIP, Mercedes Marcó del Pont; the president of the Central Bank, Miguel Pesce; and the Secretary of Human Rights, Horacio Pietragalla. At the end of the health process, the officials reserved their comments. So far, Cafiero and Vizzotti are the only ministers who will not be able to attend the Legislative Assembly.

The Congress of the Nation (Nicolás Stulberg)

The swabbing operation was organized by the Secretary of the Presidency, through the Protocol and Ceremonial area. The test for all those present at the ceremony of the opening of ordinary sessions is a requirement that was raised from the Presidency of the Senate, which presides Cristina Kirchner, in dialogue with the Presidency.

The guest list is expected to be very short on Monday, as a precaution.