April 16, 2020
 

Grains sector in Argentina prepares for possible COVID-19 outbreak in industry

 

Local industry officials said the country is preparing for a possible COVID-19 outbreak among its port workers and grains handlers in its key agriculture export industry, reported Reuters.

 

Officials said it expects a COVID-19 outbreak to infect its agricultural export industry workers, which has left them, and global importers of Argentine produce concerned.

 

Argentina is third biggest corn supplier and raw soybeans in the world. It is also the biggest soymeal livestock feed exporter globally. The country has reported 2,277 COVID-19 cases so far with 101 deaths.

 

Gustavo Idigoras, head of Argentina's CIARA-CEC export companies chamber said they are implementing prevention measures under the supervision of infectious disease experts.

 

He said there are no confirmed cases among its workers.

 

COVID-19 has disrupted transport of soy and corn harvests to port in March, but the bottleneck has been cleared.

 

Luis Zubizarreta, head of Argentina's CPPC private ports chamber said the industry is ready for its first COVID-19 case. Zubizarreta said incoming cargo ships are tested by health inspectors from the coast guard, while employees are mandated to wear protective gear at all times.

 

Temperatures of export sector workers are taken often, with any worker above 37.5 degrees Celsius prohibited from entering port facilities.

 

Additionally, port workers are not allowed to be 1.5 metres from each other, with medical teams on standby at all grains transfer points.

 

The first positive COVID-19 patient will be immediately placed in hospital isolation, plus anyone who had contact with the patient sent to quarantine. 

 

The Argentine government has exempted port activities from the recent lockdown to keep the economy moving as the country faces a deep recession and an upcoming restructuring of its sovereign bonds.

 

Labour union URGARA grains quality inspectors protested working but were told by the government to continue working. URGARA boss Pablo Palacio said the union believes export activities are not essential and all workers should be at home.

 

-      Reuters