Brazil: Governor says Carnaval in Bahia state in 2022 has become impossible

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The governor of Bahia, Rui Costa, said on Thursday (23) that “it became impossible” to hold the Carnaval in the state in 2022. The Bahia Carnaval, especially the one in the capital, Salvador, is one of the most traditional and crowded in the whole country.

“If it was difficult to do the Carnaval at the beginning of December, now it has become impossible. Only a completely irresponsible person would authorize Carnaval in these conditions. We continue to have deaths from the coronavirus, and now we have deaths from another flu virus,” said Costa in an inauguration event at a hospital.

Costa reiterated that he considers it irresponsible with people’s lives to talk about the Carnaval at this time and, without giving details, signaled that the party would not be possible in the way it was held before the pandemic.

“We will not have Carnaval in this model that we know of. There is no condition to have a large-scale party. We already have enough risk admitting parties with 5 thousand people, imagine with 3 million people”, said the governor, remembering that many countries are increasing the strictness regarding the circulation of people and closing borders.

BLOCOS

Several blocos had already announced that they would not parade next year, postponing their participation in the 2023 carnival. This is the case of bloco Camaleão, led by Bel Marques (ex-Chiclete com Banana), Vumbora, Nana, and da Quinta.

At the beginning of the month, Bloco Eva, which has more than three decades of history and launched Ivete Sangalo into the music scene, informed that it would not parade in 2022. “This decision was taken because we understand that there is no longer the necessary time for the adoption of all measures to ensure the delivery of services and products,” the bloco said in a statement.