Stories for April 3rd 2020 — MercoPress

“On April 2nd we claim sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands” was the message twitted by Argentine president Alberto Fernandez on the Malvinas War Veteran and Fallen Day, outstanding date in the official calendar of the country which recalls that 38 years ago, Argentine forces invaded the Falklands, triggering a conflict that would end 74 days later.

Argentina will continue talks this week and next with creditors over restructuring its US$ 83 billion in foreign debt, Economy Minister Martin Guzman said after the country missed the March 31 deadline it had set previously.

Uruguay’s foreign and public health ministers have said that none of the over 200 people on board the cruise vessel Greg Mortimer will be allowed to disembark in Montevideo for the moment since several passengers and crew members seem to have coronavirus symptoms.

Some 86 tests for COVID-19 from Falkland Islands residents have returned negative results, it was confirmed on Wednesday. A total of 124 tests have been sent for analysis to the UK so far, with some 38 results still awaited. Thus until Wednesday, April first, the Falklands have no confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Florida officials have officially permitted the MS Zaandam and the MS Rotterdam, Holland America cruise ships with hundreds of sick on board, to dock at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades and begin disembarking guests.

On the advice of the UK Prime Minister, the Falkland Islands Government Office in London is closed and all staff is working from home. Despite this FIGO is working as normal and remains available to help all Islanders in the UK, Falkland Islands organizations, FIG, and anyone traveling to and from the Islands.

Although Falklands have no anticipated difficulties with sea freight logistics to supply the Islands, nevertheless it has the challenge of maintaining West Falkland and the other outer islands with the necessary provisions. Let us not forget that the Falklands are an archipelago that includes two main landmasses and some 700 minor islands.

Wuhan doctor Ai Fen, who expressed early concerns about the coronavirus to the media, has disappeared and is believed detained by Chinese authorities. Fen, the head of the emergency at Wuhan Central Hospital, was given a warning after she disseminated information about the coronavirus to several other doctors.