2022 Brazil Carnaval: City of São Paulo expects 15 million people and unrestricted partying

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Anyone missing street parties can start hoping for events to return. On Monday, October 4, São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes announced that the São Paulo capital estimates that 2022 will see the largest event ever held in the city, with 15 million people.

“If we maintain today’s data, with an increase in vaccination and a drop in the number of deaths, we will hold Carnaval. We are very close to zero deaths,” the Mayor said, adding that there will be no restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During the press conference, Nunes also mentioned the resumption of the Fábrica do Samba, expected to be delivered by February next year.

“I restarted the construction of Fábrica do Samba, which had been suspended. So we are on our way to holding Carnaval. It will be the largest street Carnaval. We are estimating 15 million people. Everything is ready, we are going to release the public notices,” the Mayor said.

According to the Municipal Health Secretariat, 82% of São Paulo residents are now fully immunized with the two-dose or single-dose Covid-19 vaccine.

In September, the Mayor authorized that preparations for Carnaval in the city of São Paulo be initiated. However, at the time the city hall reported that the event would only be allowed to take place if at least 70% of the São Paulo population were vaccinated against Covid-19 and if there was authorization from municipal bodies, such as the Municipal Health Secretariat.

NO RESTRICTIONS

Last Sunday (October 3), Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes made statements along the same lines as Nunes. For next year, he pledged parties with no social distancing. “The only sure thing we know is that we are vaccinating everyone. And with everyone vaccinated, life returns to normal. Who’s going to keep a distance during Carnival?” Paes said.