Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro authorizes test events with no masks or social distancing; vaccine passport needed

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The tests will take place in Alto da Boa Vista, in the north zone; in downtown Rio; and in Copacabana, in the south zone. The audience limit for the first two is up to 5,000 people, and 500 for the third.

All participants must be fully vaccinated against the disease, upon presentation of the “vaccine passport.”

The Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS) said that the preventive measures will be waived because “the events have a health protocol that includes testing and proof of vaccination for all participants.”

One of these events is the Lucce Party, organized by electronic DJ Pedro Lucena, who will celebrate his birthday at the party. The show will take place on October 2 at Estrada de Furnas, in Alto da Boa Vista. On their Instagram profile, the organization stresses that the audience is required to present a negative test against the novel coronavirus, performed up to 48 hours before the party.

“When you buy the ticket to the Lucce Party, you will be provided with a link to schedule your free antigen test at DOT Health on September 29,” it reported.

Testing will also be mandatory for admission to the downtown and Copacabana events. The “vaccine passport” has been required in Rio since September 15 to access collective use places, such as restaurants, movie theaters, theaters, gyms, stadiums, museums, galleries, conferences, and tourist attractions, among others.

The document certifies that the individual has taken one or two vaccine doses and must be obtained through the ConecteSUS platform.

VACCINATION

The city of Rio is proceeding with the vaccination of adolescents, the reason for the recent impasse between the Ministry of Health and states. On Thursday, September 23, 13 year old girls and adolescents aged 14 and older were eligible for rescheduling and seniors aged 86 and older for the booster dose.

On Wednesday, September 22, the Municipal Health Secretariat announced that seniors aged 60 and older who had been vaccinated up to February 28 this year may take the third dose on any day and at any time. The measure was taken upon the recommendation of the city’s Special Committee to Fight Covid-19.

Municipal Health Secretary Daniel Soranz said that Rio currently has the lowest bed occupancy rate since the start of the pandemic, a result of vaccination. According to the Rio Covid Panel, there are 504 people hospitalized with the disease and there is no one waiting for a bed.

In all, 66% of Rio residents over the age of 18 have completed their vaccination schedule.