Annual Carnival Canceled in Rio de Janeiro Due to Coronavirus

The annual carnival in Brazil has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, reports the Washington Post. The carnival in Rio de Janeiro, the country’s largest city, is traditionally held from Friday to Tuesday before Lent.

“Given the lack of safety and uncertainty among scientists, we have decided to postpone the event,” announced Jorge Castanheiras, head of the Independent League of Samba Schools (LIESA). He did not rule out the possibility of holding the festivities later if an effective vaccine becomes available, as the event attracts a large number of tourists to Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil is one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, with the latest data indicating 4,659,909 confirmed cases and 139,883 deaths.