Covid-19: Pubic health specialist argues against holding Carnaval in 2022 in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – While the city halls of Brazil’s largest cities debate the possibility of holding Carnaval in 2022, public health physician Gonzalo Vecina argues against holding the event next year.

According to him, there is no way to control crowds, mask wearing, and ensure the attendance of only fully vaccinated people.

“Carnaval is something you can’t control, a very loose mass event. I don’t see the possibility of Carnaval taking place in 2022. The “São João” festivities, mid-year, is a possibility, albeit difficult. We will have soccer matches with fans, theater plays, events where control is possible,” says Vecina, one of the country’s leading officials in public health and president of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) between 1999 and 2003.

Although he argues against holding Carnaval next year, Vecina believes that the samba school parades in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo can be held under safety protocols.

“For people who will be in the bleachers, it is a debatable event. People need to be vaccinated. Even then there are risks. A negative RT-PCR test can also be required, but I don’t see any obligation to test,” he says.

The main risk in large crowds is the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant. According to the public health physician, Covid-19 cases, which are currently decreasing, should increase again between the end of this month and the start of October. There are cases of vaccinated people who had a mild form of Covid-19.

In the last epidemiological week, between August 29 and September 4, Brazil registered a total of 3,290 cases of the Delta variant, according to Ministry of Health data. The Gamma, predominant in Brazil, accounted for 18,484 cases.

“We still don’t know if people who had Covid-19 with the Gamma variant are more protected against the Delta. In Rio de Janeiro, it managed to take a hold quite well, and the cases are starting to climb. I’d rather wait and see what will happen,” he alerts.

RIO AND SÃO PAULO PLAN CARNAVAL 2022

Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes has said that he “is working with the assumption that Carnaval will be held.” In late August, the city’s tourism company Riotur released a document with guidelines for companies that intend to submit proposals for production and support of street parades. The plan is to hold a 40-day-long Carnaval.

In São Paulo, the city hll on Wednesday, September 15, authorized the start of preparations for the samba school parades. With the clearance, schools and their League can resume preparations, but the decision still depends on the Municipal Health Secretariat.