The Special Committee to Combat Covid-19 (CEEC), of the Municipal Health Department (SMS-RJ), recommended, on Monday (20), that the folder, at least for the time being, not establish any restrictions on the performance of the Carnaval 2022. The CEEC based the recommendation highlighting the “favorable epidemiological scenario”. They take into account the low number of cases and hospitalizations per covid-19, the low percentage of positive tests and the current vaccination coverage rate in the city, which stands at 80%.
Furthermore, according to the minutes of the meeting, the Committee took into account the analysis of data from all events with agglomerations and said that it is supported by the scientific evidence currently available. However, the CEEC recommended that the entire monitoring process of the epidemiological scenario be maintained and that the presentation of the vaccine passport be guaranteed.
The recommendation comes about a week after the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, questioned the street carnival and only guarantee the parade of samba schools in Sapucaí. In one of his social networks, Paes highlighted that this recommendation is punctual, indicating that if there is a worsening in the numbers of the pandemic, the restrictions may be reinstated.
The president of Liesa (Independent League of Samba Schools in Rio de Janeiro), Jorge Perlingeiro, agrees with the committee’s recommendation. According to him, the samba schools and the League did not stop working during this period and are ready to go to the avenue in February.
“When the pandemic problem came back there, there was great uncertainty, and I knew that we could not have Carnival. But I couldn’t wait until someone defined something more concrete. So we don’t stop at this time,” the president told CNN.
Perlingeiro highlighted the importance of advancing vaccination so that the epidemiological scenario could improve in the city of Rio de Janeiro and expressed hope with the full realization of next year’s parade.
“We are all very happy and hopeful. The barracks are working at full speed and funds are already arriving through the partnerships signed. This gives us a lot of security”, he highlighted, stressing that everyone who is going to parade at Sapucaí will have to present proof of vaccination in order to remove their costumes and participate in the party.
TECHNICAL TESTS
Despite his optimism regarding the parade of samba schools, Perlingeiro said that it is not possible to guarantee the technical rehearsals open to the public, scheduled for the second half of January. Because there is no ticket, the control of who is or is not vaccinated is impossible.
Perlingeiro also commented on the forecast of works to revitalize the asphalt at the Sambódromo. According to him, there has already been a company that has won the tender and the city of Rio is going to donate around R$ 1.8 million for the renovations. The forecast is that they will start until the 27th of this month and finish within 20 days.
In addition to the works on the avenue, the Sambódromo will also receive new lighting and will have its water drainage system improved, with the installation of new manholes on both sides of the road.
Currently, the city of Rio has 5,394,938 people with the complete vaccination cycle. Of these, 1,340,923 have already received the booster dose.
Reference: CNN Brasil
