In the frame Freedom of Opinion this Friday (3), commentator Ricardo Baronovsky assesses the cancellation of New Year’s Eve and Carnival parties in several Brazilian capitals after the arrival of the Ômicron variant in the country has been confirmed.
In an interview with CNN last Thursday, the mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes (MDB), announced that the traditional year-end party in the city, held on Avenida Paulista, will not be held. In all, 20 capitals opted to review the commemorations of the turn.
For Baronovsky, the flexibility at this time of the pandemic is “worrying”. He defends the economic importance of the events, but says that the population does not want a fourth wave of infections, like the one that several European countries are facing at the moment.
“There is a very fallacious argument in relation to the holiday season and Carnival. I know that they are sheltered in the social order and that they move the economy, but schools, commerce and industry also generate jobs and, if we have a fourth wave, they are the ones who will foot the bill.”
“In the measure to be adopted, between prevention, which is a sure harm, and precaution, which is scientifically uncertain harm, I adopt precaution. When in doubt, favor health and life so that commerce doesn’t pay the bill again”, he said.
The commentator also took a stand against the removal of the mandatory use of masks, another item that Nunes withdrew – the capital would follow the recommendation of the state government to allow the use in open places, but should wait for further studies on Ômicron.
“Who will decide whether I go out in the street with a mask or without, are the doctors. They are the ones who will bear the loss of crowded ICUs, respirators… this is what we call tragic choices”, he highlighted. “That [o surgimento de uma nova variante] it shows us how serious this disease is, it is uncertain and medicine cannot completely encompass it.”
Baronovsky also stated that the position of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), who advocates not holding the festivities despite having been against isolation, does not show inconsistency. “Once again, ideology clouding our judgment. We have New Year’s, Christmas and then Easter, whatever. It’s the same rule. Where the same facts count, the same right counts.”
“I don’t care if Bolsonaro or another government official is analyzing it. Who we should listen to is medicine. These are parties where there is crowding, closer contact and a lack of care for the people involved”, he concluded.
The Freedom of Opinion this Friday (3) had the participation of Fernando Molica and Ricardo Baronovsky. The picture airs daily on CNN.
The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the position of the CNN or its employees.
Reference: CNN Brasil
