Averaging the second year of the pandemic, the effects in the different commercial areas continue to be serious, as in the case of bookstores.

According to a statement from the El Libro Foundation, responsible for carrying out the Buenos Aires International Book Fair, in a few days the Waldhuter Bookstore closed its doors in the city of Buenos Aires, the annex of Librería Hernández and in La Plata El Aleph.

In a statement, The Foundation highlighted that the second year of the pandemic "exacerbated the crisis in the bookstore sector", adding that "the health emergency and the lack of a sustained state policy that protects the world of the book generates that day by day more bookstores lower their blinds".

The statement continues to highlight that "the bookstore circuit is a source of pride for our country, Much has been highlighted that Buenos Aires is the city in the world with the most bookstores per inhabitant ", but nevertheless, "This cultural emblem is being put in check by the pandemic that exacerbated some of the problems that the sector has been dragging on for several years and that have not found an answer in either the Buenos Aires or national governments".

On this point, the Foundation explains that there is “a series of historical orders that could bring oxygen to the bookseller world, protect him and free him from this permanent agony: VAT exemption (claim that several years ago was remembered at the inauguration of the Buenos Aires Book Fair and that, Yes OK, was awarded to printers, publishers and distributors, continues even relegating and excluding booksellers, for inexplicable drafting issues of the Law), the support of REPRO, home equity lines of credit, subsidized service fees, exemption from real estate taxes and the payment of social security contributions for a fixed number of employees, among others".

Regarding the situation in downtown Buenos Aires, epicenter of the largest concentration of bookstores, is "the area most affected, since it supports very high rents and little public attendance. "Bookstore of Lights", in october of last year, was the first to announce its closure, they followed her on Avenida Corrientes "Mr. Hyde "and the two branches of" Open book ", "The Argonauts" of Avenida de Mayo, "The thousand and one leaves" of Palermo, and unfortunately the list goes on ".