69.5 Overall Score (No change since Aug 1st)

Argentina

  • 60.7 Public Health
    Directives
  • 36 Financial
    Response
  • 100 Fact-Based
    Communication
  • 60.7 Public Health
    Directives
  • 36 Financial
    Response
  • 100 Fact-Based
    Communication

Argentina’s strong policy score is mainly due to its strong political response, characterized by clear, fact-based communication and regular press briefings by President Fernandez.

Pre-COVID Conditions

Low availability of hospital beds and a low GDP per capita kept Argentina near the median in its pre-pandemic capabilities.

  • Debt/GDP ratio 86.1%
  • GDP/capita $19,971
  • Gini coefficient (out of 100) 41.4
  • Infant mortality rate (out of 1,000 live births) 9
  • Healthcare access score (out of 100) 68.4
  • Hospital beds/1,000 People 35.8

Government Response

Select a data point for more information
(Data points represent policy level as of Sep 1.)
60.7

Public Health Directives

Although it passed a strict stay-at-home order on March 19th, closing schools and banning public gatherings, Argentina’s limited testing, minimal travel restrictions, and release of less than $1 per capita in emergency healthcare funding bring down its score substantially.

  • Stay at home order 2
  • Public gathering restrictions 4
  • School closings 3
  • Public event cancellations 2
  • Testing policy 1
  • Emergency healthcare investments/capita $1.62
  • Travel restrictions 4
  • Tests/1,000 people 24
  • Contact tracing 2
36

Financial Response

While Argentina’s stimlus package represents a smaller share of its economy than other countries in our sample, the country has implemented a generous policy targeting debt relief related to COVID-19.

  • Financial stimulus as share of GDP 5%
  • Income support 1
  • Debt forebearance 2
100

Fact-Based Communication

The Argentine authorities have consistently communicated fact- and science-based information to the public through weekly press briefings.

  • Reliance on science/fact based information 0
  • Press freedom 0

COVID-19 Status as of Sep 1

Restrictive lockdown rules and clear, regular communication with the public have prevented Argentina’s case rate from skyrocketing, but the country is likely testing only the sickest people, masking the true extent of the disease’s spread.

  • Total deaths 8,498
  • Death rate per 100K 188
  • Total cases 408,413
  • Cases per 100K 9,037
  • Percent of positive tests 54.1
  • Change in positivity rates +13.1
Case Trend Line
Daily cases Level 2 Lockdown Level 3 Lockdown
Date Status New Cases/1M
1 Jul 17 Some shops, hair salons, professional services reopen; outdoor activities allowed 76.27
2 Jul 31 Lockdown is extended until August after cases rise 117.26

Differentiating Factors

  • Strict lockdown taking major economic toll: Imposing the strictest lockdown in Latin America, Argentina had early success limiting cases, but implementation has contributed to a major contraction in the economy. Read More
  • Peronism facilitated public compliance: The lasting legacy of Peronism, particularly its popularity among low-income and informal workers, enabled the government to swiftly enact a strict lockdown, aided by its strong centralized government. Governors wishing to lift lockdowns in their states require permission from the President. Read More
  • Debt burden hindered financial response: Argentina's historically rocky relationship with the IMF has hindered its ability to respond to the pandemic financially, as it must balance stabilization of its economy and responding to the needs of its citizens with the conditions of its debt restructuring agreement with the Fund. Read More
  • Leader models behavior: Political leadership has been key to Argentina's relative success: on June 17 it was reported that President Fernandez would go into voluntary self-isolation following several instances of politicians catching coronavirus. He suspended all travel and in-person meetings, working from the presidential residence to set an example to the public. Read More
Compared with Other Western Hemisphere Countries
  • 44.6
    Brazil 3,908,272
    Cases     18,387
    Per 1M     121,381
    Deaths

    Brazil has a relatively weak score, primarily due to its poor public health policies, especially its very low levels of testing, coupled with President Bolsonaro’s spreading of misinformation about the virus.

  • 43.2
    Mexico 599,560
    Cases     4,650
    Per 1M     64,414
    Deaths

    Mexico's score has deteriorated over time, due primarily to its extremely weak financial response and relatively weak public health policy, including very limited testing.

  • 31.2
    United States 6,031,013
    Cases     18,220
    Per 1M     183,598
    Deaths

    Still battling widespread COVID-19 cases and deaths, which were exacerbated by the former administration's limited use of facts and science, limited emergency healthcare spending, and limited debt relief, the Biden administration, by contrast, is taking aggressive action to combat the virus, although it may take time for the score to reflect these changes.

  • 73.1
    Canada 128,948
    Cases     3,417
    Per 1M     9,126
    Deaths

    Canada has a relatively strong score, with poor public health policy countered by a continued reliance on fact-based communication.

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New Zealand

Statistics and government response factors available on each country profile include:

Pre-COVID Conditions:

  • Debt to GDP ratio
  • Infant mortality rates
  • Hospital beds per 1,000 people
  • Gini coefficients measuring inequality
  • Health access and quality

COVID-19 Public Health Directives:

  • Stay-at home orders
  • School-closing policy
  • Public-gathering restrictions
  • Cancellation of public events
  • Testing policy and rates per 1,000 people
  • Emergency healthcare spending per capita
  • Travel restrictions
  • Contact tracing

COVID-19 Financial Response:

  • Stimulus package as a share of GDP
  • Income support
  • Debt-forbearance

Public Communications:

  • Instances of misinformation by leadership
  • Limitations on press freedom, censorship

Current/Historic In-Country COVID-19 Status:

  • Death rates per 1 million
  • Case rates per 1 million