The Rio de Janeiro metropolis governing administration announced on Saturday that the city’s well-known New Year’s Eve celebration will be canceled because of to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, the metropolis governing administration said that the function, which attracts hundreds of thousands of men and women to the iconic Copacabana beach front every single calendar year, “is not feasible in the pandemic scenario, with out the existence of a vaccine.”

The assertion claimed the city’s tourism bureau will quickly existing option celebration proposals to Mayor Marcelo Crivella that are “without having in-person attendance, in a virtual structure” and that acquire into account “an atmosphere of reflection and hope in the facial area of so numerous losses.”

The long run of Rio de Janeiro’s pre-Lenten Carnival samba performances and road parties, which ordinarily get place in February, is nevertheless uncertain.

The town government’s assertion claims that the regional tourism bureau is awaiting an official situation from the Unbiased League of Samba Universities, the body which signifies the 1000’s-strong samba schools that compete in elaborate performances through Carnival. The assertion explained there is no official decision yet with regards to no matter whether block get-togethers in the street will be canceled during Carnival.

Rio de Janeiro’s announcement follows neighboring São Paulo’s selection to postpone its Carnival celebration to May well or June upcoming year, even with the actuality that Carnival’s day is pegged to the spiritual holiday getaway of Easter and Lent. 

Before in July, the town of São Paulo announced that its New 12 months celebrations would be canceled this year.