The new phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, driven by the Ômicron variant, led to the cancellation of Carnival in almost all capitals in the country. A survey by Agência Brasil shows how almost all city halls have banned blocks, parades and demonstrations in public places.
The exception is the city of Belo Horizonte, which did not issue a rule with an explicit ban, but analyzes it on a case-by-case basis. Most cities will allow parties and events in open and closed places. Some have set audience limits, others have not.
In all cities, health protocols, such as wearing a mask, are valid. The requirement for a vaccination passport is adopted in some cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Aracaju and Fortaleza.
blocks
The ban on the party was felt by the blocks, workers and promoters of carnival events.
The Bloco Eu Acho é Little, which comes out in Olinda (PE) and turns 45 in 2022, is one of the groups affected by the cancellation of the party this year, but considers that there would be no way to safely parade.
“The absence of Carnival is proportional to the celebration of the party for those who love and live the event. It is a time of retreat, as there are no sanitary conditions to go to the streets. But it is necessary to look at the productive chain of culture and support it in some way”, says Luciana Veras, one of the members of the block, which will allocate part of the income from selling t-shirts to people who work in the parades.
In the opinion of Juliana Andrade, coordinator of the Carnavalesca Network of the Federal District (DF), there was a lack of support that existed in the city for holding the party. “We could insert Carnival as a technology in the fight against the pandemic. Marchinhas, information in the media”, she defends.
Survey by regions
Southeast
At the Rio de Janeiro, the street carnival was, according to the city hall, discarded. The reason was the difficulty in controlling the flow of people and requiring the vaccination passport to access the events. The samba school parade at Marquês de Sapucaí was postponed to April. Private events were allowed, provided proof of full vaccination is required.
In Sao Paulo, the street Carnival was cancelled, while the samba school parades were postponed to the Tiradentes holiday. Private parties and events can take place, as long as the limit of 70% of the capacity of the place is respected and proof of vaccination is required. It is mandatory to adopt health protocols such as the use of masks and the availability of gel alcohol.
the city hall of Belo Horizonte did not publish rules prohibiting Carnival celebrations. He informed Agência Brasil that he will assess the situations “on a case-by-case basis”. He recalled that he did not invest or support any Carnival blocks with infrastructure this year.
The days will not be optional points in the capital of Minas, which, in the expectation of the municipal administration, should make it difficult to hold events in public places. Private events are authorized according to the rules adopted by the prefecture, such as obtaining a license, proof of vaccination or RT-PCR exam up to 48 hours before, mask obligation and availability of gel alcohol and other resources for hand hygiene.
There is no audience capacity limitation. Organizers must have information about participants for epidemiological tracking and inform health authorities if they are aware of cases that may have been contracted at the event. Tickets should preferably be purchased electronically.
In Vitória (ES) there will be no Carnival programming. Decree No. 20,415, of February 14, prohibited the holding in public spaces of concentrations, samba schools and blocks parades, recreational activities similar to carnival blocks, as well as any event that results in agglomeration on roads. The samba school parade was transferred to the 7th, 8th and 9th of April.
Private establishments and events are regulated by state regulations. As the city is at moderate risk of a pandemic, bars and restaurants can open until 10 pm, Monday to Saturday, and until 4 pm on Sunday. Parties and shows can take place with a capacity of up to 50%, 1,200 people indoors and 2,000 people outdoors. To enter the places, proof of vaccination will be required.
Midwest
At the Federal District, Carnival was also cancelled, in decrees issued on January 6th. According to the rules of the local government, balls, shows, blocks and parades are prohibited, as well as any Carnival event, including in private establishments. Festivals, parties and similar cultural events cannot charge admission. Bars cannot maintain dance spaces, but they can work without a charge for admission, with live music, as well as concerts and parties in open or closed places, also free of charge.
In cuiabá, Carnival was banned, including both public and private activities. According to City Hall Decree 8,946 of 2022, published this week, sporting and artistic events held in gyms and stadiums must respect a limitation of 80% of local capacity, in addition to biosecurity measures.
In goiânia, Decree nº 598, of February 17, prohibited Carnival celebrations in public places. The first version of the decree provided for the suspension of Carnival festivities in closed environments, but the wording was modified. The standard also sets obligations for economic activities. Bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and nightclubs must maintain a distance of 1.5 meters between tables, with a 60% capacity limitation and the possibility of live music and the use of a dance floor.
North East
In savior, one of the biggest carnivals in the country is also cancelled. Any cultural and sound activities in public areas were also prohibited. The city hall set up a task force to monitor gatherings and demonstrations in places where the party is traditionally held, such as the Barra-Ondina circuit. Carnival days will not have an optional point, and municipal bodies will function normally.
the city hall of Maceió canceled the parties. In a note, he informed that authorizations for holding private parties in public places are also prohibited.
In Aracaju, events are authorized, with rules established by the state, provided that the limits of up to one thousand people in open spaces and up to 300 in closed spaces are respected. The realization is conditioned to the approval of the Health Department, and there must also be respect for health protocols. In the events, proof of vaccination or negative antigen test performed up to 48 hours before should be required.
the prefecture of Recife, a city with one of the most traditional festivities in the country, also decided to cancel, like other northeastern capitals. The city government announced alternative schedules. The Tourism and Leisure Cycle Track, which passes through the city’s tourist attractions, will have bicycles with speakers playing frevo, the traditional rhythm of Carnival.
Olinda, a city neighboring the capital and which forms the carnival circuit of the Metropolitan Region, also canceled the party. The two cities launched support programs for Carnival blocks and workers.
In strength, the city government prohibited until March 1st the holding of festive Carnival and pre-Carnival events. Other events must respect the limits of up to 500 people in open spaces and up to 250 people indoors. On these occasions, the determination is to require the vaccination passport and respect health protocols. The government of Ceará and the prefecture of Fortaleza did not decree an optional point in public agencies.
the city hall of São Luís informed that there will be no Carnival in the city. Faced with the cancellation of parades and blocks, the municipal administration said it will grant aid to artists and members of blocks. Private events are still authorized, according to the rules in force in the capital of Maranhão. Optional point was determined from February 28 to March 2.
North
the city hall of manaus suspended the authorization of parties and street blocks. The 1st and 2nd, until 12 pm, are municipal holidays.
In Bethlehem, the festivities were canceled in November last year. The prefecture determined an optional point on February 28, March 1 and 2, until 12 pm. Parties in closed places can take place, as long as they have sanitary protocols and a requirement for proof of vaccination.
A similar decision was taken by the city of palms, in Tocantins. The administration issued a decree canceling the carnival demonstrations until March 1st. During the holiday, an optional point was decreed.
In Porto Velho, Carnival was also cancelled, according to Decree No. 17,887, of January 12, 2022. “It is prohibited to hold any events, public or private, in open or closed spaces, in commemoration of Carnival 2022, such as balls, blocks and associations, street carnival, parties in republics, parties in places and private events of any kind”, says the norm. However, bars, restaurants and nightclubs will be able to operate in the capital of Rondônia, as long as they respect sanitary protocols. The city hall established February 28, March 1 and 2 as an optional point.
South
the city hall of Porto Alegre prohibited activities, such as street blocks and samba school parades, but private parties are allowed according to state and municipal protocols (such as wearing a mask and distancing). The activities were initially transferred to the 6th, 7th and 8th of May, when the parades should take place. But the date may change depending on the pandemic.
Florianopolis is another capital of the region that had Carnival canceled by the city hall. Blocks and group parades were prohibited, as well as any public or private carnival events. The holiday will be optional in the city, with municipal services operating on duty.
In the city of Curitiba, the party will be in virtual format. The decision was taken in response to the request of the Liga das Escolas de Samba. The blocks and the parade on Avenida Marechal Deodoro were cancelled. A public notice provided support for schools and three blocks to promote virtual activities during the period. The prefecture and other public bodies will have normal hours on these days.
In the survey, no feedback was obtained from the municipalities of Rio Branco, Boa Vista, Campo Grande, Natal and João Pessoa by Agência Brasil.
Source: CNN Brasil
