Brazil
Rio de Janeiro’s carnival parades have become the latest casualty of the pandemic, with officials announcing that the February 2021 edition would be postponed indefinitely.
The carnival draws millions of tourists from around Brazil and the world to the beachside city each year.
“We came to the conclusion that the event had to be postponed,” said Jorge Castanheira, president of the Independent League of Samba Schools, which organises the parade.
“We just can’t do it in February. The samba schools won’t have the time or financial and organisational resources to be ready. It’s not a cancellation, it’s a postponement. We are looking for an alternative solution, something we can do when it’s safe to contribute to the city. But we aren’t certain enough to