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Video: A Conversation on Buenos Aires' COVID-19 Response and Recovery

AS/COA's Susan Segal spoke with Buenos Aires' secretary general on the capital's strategies in handling the pandemic.

Speakers:

  • Fernando Straface, Secretary General, City of Buenos Aires
  • Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

AS/COA's president and CEO spoke with the Argentine capital's secretary general about the COVID-19 impact on cities and urban futures, in a conversation on Buenos Aires' response and recovery. The city official and former executive director of the Argentine think tank CIPPEC distinguished between three focus areas, including crisis management, government administration, and "the day after" factor of post-coronavirus plans for city activity. Straface presented a timeline comparison between Argentina and other select countries' social isolation responses, highlighting the South American country's rapid action in establishing total quarantine. Straface also spoke of the economic impacts to the city including commercial activity, knowledge-based services, and tourism, and noted also the city government's reorganization of public finances to strengthen critical areas. He continued to speak of the city's plans for education, as well as efforts to market itself internationally once quarantine is lifted and travel and economic activity can reopen in a "new normal."

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