At least 24 Brazilian capitals will not have a New Year’s Eve party

With the advancement of the omicron variant and the fourth wave of Covid in Europe, most Brazilian capitals decided to cancel the New Year’s Eve parties traditionally promoted by their city halls and state governments.

This Saturday (4), the list of those who will not have New Year’s parties was added by Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, reaching 24 capitals.

In the morning, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes (PSD), announced that he took the decision “with sadness”. “But we cannot organize the celebration without the guarantee of all health authorities,” he wrote on Twitter.

David Almeida (Avante), mayor of Manaus, also informed the cancellation via social networks. He posted a video on Instagram in which he says that “even though this event would generate hundreds of jobs, which would help people who are in need of income this year, our concern is with people’s lives.”

So far, the capitals that stop holding parties are São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Vitória, Belo Horizonte, Campo Grande, Cuiabá, Goiânia, Natal, Fortaleza, Salvador, Aracaju, Recife, João Pessoa, Palmas, Teresina, Recife, Belém, Maceió, Macapá, São Luís, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Curitiba and Florianópolis. Brasília, the federal capital, will also not hold an event.

Traditionally, most capitals hold, on December 31, celebrations that include concerts and fireworks. However, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Teresina did not keep this custom for years and should continue without programming for this New Year.

Rio Branco did not inform if the party will be maintained. In addition, Boa Vista and Porto Velho are evaluating whether to keep or cancel the New Year.

Check out the status of each capital below:

Midwest

Brasilia

The federal capital will not have a New Year’s Eve celebration. The governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha (MDB), wrote on Twitter that “we have come a long way in fighting the disease and we cannot risk a setback in this fight.” “I ask that everyone observe the recommended care, especially in this time of uncertainty, until we can get back to life normally.”

Large field

Through Instagram, Mayor Marquinhos Trad informed that New Year’s Eve is canceled and Carnival is suspended, which could be held if the situation improves in the coming months.

“At this moment, what science is asking of us is precisely what happens at Carnival, they are asking to avoid crowding, they are asking for social distance, wearing a mask”, said the mayor. “Science tells us that it is still time to be cautious, especially in view of the new variant of the coronavirus.”

Cuiabá

In an official note, the city hall informs that public events remain cancelled, such as the year-end parties and Carnival of 2022. However, the folder states that private events are released upon presentation of the vaccination card against Covid-19 or negative test for coronavirus.

Goiania

In the city, the party is held by the government of Goiás. Sought, governor Ronaldo Caiado’s press office (Democrats) informed that there is no New Year’s Eve party planned.

North East

Aracaju

“We need to be cautious”, justified Mayor Edvaldo Nogueira (PDT), when suspending the New Year’s celebration. He pondered, however, that the city has about 80% of the population over 12 years old immunized with the two doses and low rates of virus contamination.

Nogueira said that private parties must have a limit of 5,000 people outdoors and 3,000 indoors. In addition, entry should only be allowed for those who present proof of vaccination or a negative test for Covid performed up to 48 hours before.

strength

Mayor José Sarto (PDT) said that the city will not hold the public event, but authorized private parties for up to 2,500 people in closed spaces and 5,000 in open spaces.

João Pessoa

The city hall published on the official website that parties on the waterfront are cancelled, as well as the installation of tents on the beach during New Year’s Eve. However, shows and private parties with 50% of the audience capacity are allowed.

Maceio

“For prudence and not to postpone the decision even further, we announced the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve parties that would be held by the city hall”, wrote Mayor João Henrique Caldas (PSB).

Natal

On the official website of the city, it was informed that the city decided to strengthen health care amid the current scenario of Covid-19. “Music shows will no longer be held in Redinha, nor fireworks in Ponta Negra and Newton Navarro bridge, as was initially planned for the turn of the year”, says the statement.

Recife

In Recife, as a protective measure, the traditional shows that take place in Boa Vigem and Pina will not be held. However, fireworks on four ferries in Boa Viagem are still being held, in addition to shows at Ibura, Lagoa do Araçá, Jardim São Paulo and Morro da Conceição.

Salvador

Mayor Bruno Reis (DEM) wrote on Twitter that he canceled this year’s Virada Salvador. “I know the importance of the event for the economy of our city, but we continue to put people’s lives first,” he said.

Teresina

No festivity was planned and the measure will be maintained.

North

Bethlehem

Mayor Edmilson Rodrigues (PSOL) wrote on Twitter that, as a result of uncertainty, with the emergence of a new variant, the Carnival and New Year’s party in Belém is suspended.

Manaus

Mayor David Almeida (Avante) announced, this Saturday (4), the cancellation of the end-of-year party.

Macapa

Mayor Antônio Furlan (Citizenship) confirmed to sheet that New Year’s Eve will not be held.

Palmas

For the second year in a row, the city of Palmas announced that the party that would feature concerts and fireworks is cancelled.

St. Louis

Mayor Eduardo Braide (Podemos) announced on Twitter that the New Year’s Eve celebration will not be held in the city. “The moment asks us for prudence and responsibility. Our main mission is to take care of people”, he wrote.

Southeast

Belo Horizonte

The capital of Minas Gerais no longer holds New Year’s parties since the turn of 2015 to 2016. The situation will repeat itself now.

A technical note prepared by the Committee to Combat Covid-19 assessed that “this is not the time to bring millions of people to the streets in a short period of time”.

Rio de Janeiro

Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD) announced, this Saturday, the New Year’s Eve festivities are canceled in the capital of Rio de Janeiro.

“I make the decision with sadness, but we cannot organize the celebration without the guarantee of all health authorities. Unfortunately, we cannot organize a party of this size, in which we have a lot of expenses and logistics involved, without the minimum time for preparation”, he wrote.

São Paulo

The capital of São Paulo canceled the traditional New Year’s Eve on Avenida Paulista and also maintained the mandatory use of masks in open spaces — beforehand, an announcement provided for flexibility in open places as of December 11th.

Victory

Despite advances in vaccination in the capital of Espírito Santo, with more than 100% of the adult population immunized with two doses of the vaccine, 86% of the elderly with the three doses already applied and 86% of adolescents with the first dose of the immunizing agent, the capital decided to cancel the end-of-year parties.

On the

Curitiba

He didn’t used to hold end-of-the-year parties for the public and must continue without celebration.

Florianopolis

The capital had already declared in October that it would only hold fireworks, without shows or audience.

On Twitter, Mayor Gean Loureiro (DEM) said that the capital did not cancel the party because the event, in fact, was never announced. “At the launch of the summer schedule, we made it clear that we would have fireworks, and we will, but that we wouldn’t have a stage with a show,” he wrote.

Porto Alegre

Mayor Sebastião Melo canceled the event and stated that “Porto Alegre resumed activities in a responsible manner throughout the year, with top priority for vaccination”.

“With the same responsibility, we will stop holding the party and will continue to monitor the developments, to safeguard public health and the functioning of the city,” he said.