A birthday is celebrated. No matter the circumstances. On April 2, Bernadette celebrated her 74th birthday in a four-star Argentinian hotel at the foot of the Andes. Gift packages in the colors of the Puma country, with this breathtaking view of Lago Argentino, one of the splendors of Patagonia, everything seemed to come together to make this party with friends a unique memory.
But truth be told, this April afternoon above all made it possible to forget for a moment the snags caused by the coronavirus. Leaving on March 10 from Paris as part of an organized trip, this group of 23 retirees, aged 62 to 84, has lived for more than three weeks a most chaotic confinement. While more than 1,700 French nationals passing through Argentina have found France urgently, they are still stranded at the southern tip of the American continent.
The reason for this funny ordeal is simple. While they thought they would escape the epidemic by leaving Europe, they finally participated in its spread across the Atlantic. On March 13, one of their own, a 74-year-old man from Lorraine, had to be hospitalized at El Calafate hospital due to a high fever. It was the first case of Covid-19 in the region - which now numbers several dozen. If the senior is now recovered, its contamination will instantly trigger the detention of the entire province. And this without waiting for national instructions.
Since then, seven other French tourists have been hospitalized because of the coronavirus. Among them, Bernadette's husband, 82 years old, was still on Tuesday evening in intensive care. "It's hard but we are in shock," said the grandmother over the phone, trying to contain her sobs. "I think we all got this virus, actually. But I'm sure things will work out. We will not have visited the country, but we have discovered an exceptional people ”.
The repatriation puzzle
According to a diplomatic source, the French embassy in Argentina "is following with great attention" this extraordinary file. Marc Le Fur, LR for Côtes-d'Armor deputy, alerted by fellow Britons, directly informed the Quai d'Orsay crisis center of this incredible situation. Today he hopes for an "airlift" in the medium term.
But the repatriation equation still has many unknowns. First there is the question of the route. Because the city of El Calafate is located more than 2000 kilometers as the crow flies from the capital Buenos Aires - an essential stopover to reach France. However, all commercial air routes are closed, until April 12 minimum. Buses have been made available to French nationals by the embassy. But such a journey is "impractical for these people," according to Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, honorary consul of the area. "This is equivalent to more than forty hours on the road, it is too risky given their age and their state of health," she sighs with the Parisian.
Once this issue is resolved, another dilemma will arise: should we wait until everyone has recovered before considering leaving the country? The debate does not yet seem settled. "At the embassy, they are very concerned about whether everyone can fly," said the consular consulate. Beyond the infected people, there are more generally risks of thromboses and coronary or pulmonary problems ”.
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This caution seems generally accepted within the group, even if some tourists who have not developed any symptoms become impatient. They know that a negative screening test would allow them to get out of containment. Hervé is one of them. While waiting for the result, he evokes on WhatsApp a "traumatic" experience. "We are holding on but it's very hard," says Ella Hartman, 71. The only Swiss woman in the group drives out boredom in her bedroom by playing Sudoku and tapping on her smartphone.
"850 euros" per week out of his pocket
In addition to this uncertainty, there is also a financial concern. Since the start of confinement, all band members - a circle of former insurers - have to take out the wallet to pay for board and lodging. "This represents 900 Swiss francs per week," or nearly 850 euros, says Elia. These expenses are to be added to the check of more than 4000 euros paid on average for this organized trip, which will have lasted only four days instead of the fourteen planned…
On this point as on that of the conditions of repatriation, the Parisian agency Partir, organizer of this trip, wants to be confident. "They find it difficult to accept their fate and we can understand it," concedes manager Pierre Jamet-Fournier, who claims to have offered the first two nights of additional hotel accommodation. But good news should soon come from insurers. "Basically, the pandemic is not part of the reasons for care, but there should be a fairly wide coverage on accommodation as on medical costs related to their respective treatment and repatriation," he promises.
Meanwhile, from Paris, Pierre takes care "day and night" of the material comfort of his customers but not only. "With my correspondent on site, Adeline, we are struggling to clarify the communication with the authorities or to find the medicines they need," he continues. Some suffer from diabetes, others from hypertension or Parkinson's disease. Madame Gonzalez is then the intermediary between the pharmacies and the hotel. "To change their minds, I also bring them books in French, including Mafalda comics or detective novels," she lists.
"Give them a little happiness"
But the biggest effort, according to all interviewees, is the locals who provide them. First there are the nursing staff, whom the French wanted to applaud from their balcony. On March 23, like their compatriots 13,000 km away, they went out to their windows to say “thank you” to the hospital heroes. A scene filmed by Bernadette.
FRANCESES AISLADOS SALUDAN A TRABAJADORES DE LA SALUD DE EL CALAFATE
▶ ️ MIRÁ Grupo de jubilados franceses aplauden y agradecen a trabajadores de la salud de hospital de #ElCalafate desde su aislamiento en hotel. Uno de ellos es el único positivo de # COVID19 #Coronavirus. Otro permanece en terapia, aún sin confirmación. Tres mas son sospechosos.
Gepostet von Señal Calafate TV am Montag, 23. März 2020And then there is Paola Sanchez, the patroness of this golden prison that has become the "Edenia". Helped by her husband and three friends, confined to the first floor, she bends over backwards for the well-being of her guests. “I am the only one who comes down to bring them food four times a day. We take all the precautions, we clean their rooms, we take out the trash, we clean the place. In short, we do everything to make them look good, ”said the manager to the national daily La Nación. Each day, the manager also authorizes an outing around the residence, while her husband animates a short sports session.
"You can't even imagine how adorable they are," exclaims Bernadette. "We can get worked up on a lot of things but they, it is true that they are great," is moved suddenly Elia, between two blues. The surprise birthday party for Bernadette was also Paola.
Admittedly, all were a meter away and wore masks while they danced to the tunes of the Creole Company. But at least, "it gave them a little happiness," smiles Maria Fernanda Gonzalez.
