The president of the Independent League of Samba Schools in Rio de Janeiro, Jorge Perlingeiro, told CNN that the parades at Marquês de Sapucaí will not follow the same sanitary protocols established for the revelry in São Paulo. The parades in São Paulo will be held with 70% of the capacity of the Anhembi Sambadrome and with mandatory use of masks for those who are going to parade.
“There is no way to have a parade without 100% of the public in Rio. Tickets have already been sold and with 70%, the party, which is very expensive, will never pay for itself”, said Perlingeiro.
According to him, it would be a “heresy” to force the members of the samba schools to parade in masks. “How are you going to judge the Harmonia (a question that assesses how well the marchers fit in or not with the rhythm and singing of the samba plot) of the schools?”, he declared.
The president of Liesa highlighted that several other agglomerations are currently being registered in the country, with concerts and crowded beaches due to the heat wave. Rio de Janeiro is experiencing an explosion of cases caused by the omicron variant of covid-19: in 1 month the city went from 23 inpatients (on 12/18) to 723 this Tuesday (18).
“Only those who are vaccinated can step on Sapucaí, whether to work, watch or parade”, said the president of Liesa.
Next Monday (24) the scientific committee of the city hall of Rio meets once again to discuss the possibility of canceling the Carnival of Samba Schools in Rio de Janeiro.
Reference: CNN Brasil
