UPDATE: Argentina's Banks To Shut Friday As Swine Flu Measure
(Updates with confirmation)
BUENOS AIRES -(Dow Jones)- Argentina's private-sector banks on Wednesday said they will join a special public-sector holiday scheduled for Friday as part of a nationwide effort to contain the spread of the A/H1N1 swine flu.
"The banks which are part of the Argentine Association of Banks...adhere to the administrative holiday for the coming Friday," the association said in a statement.
Friday's special holiday rolls on from Thursday's Independence Day holiday, and authorities believe people will use the long weekend as an excuse to stay home, and therefore help slow the spread of the virus as winter takes hold.
The Central Bank said Tuesday it will also be closed on Friday.
The Argentine Health Ministry on Sunday reported that the official death toll in Argentina from swine flu has reached 60, and there are a total of 2,485 officially confirmed cases.
However, many believe the official numbers lag the actual rate of infection, and that the real numbers are much higher.