Paes believes restrictions will reduce crowding on New Year's Eve.

Brazil Agency – The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, said today (28) that the public authorities imposed a "deep discouragement" on the gathering of people on Copacabana Beach during the night of New Year's Eve...and that the measures will reduce the event's audience, which usually gathers more than 2 million people.

The traditional fireworks display along the waterfront will take place, but there will be no fireworks. showsThere will be no extra buses or subway service, with stations closed between 20 pm on December 31st and 7 am on January 1st.

"We have greatly reduced the possibility of people traveling. It's not a good idea to go to Copacabana unless you are already there or within walking distance of Copacabana Beach. And with that, we imagine there will be less crowding," said the mayor, in a press conference held this Tuesday at the City Palace. "There is a profound discouragement on our part."

Parking will also be prohibited on the streets of Copacabana and on access roads to the neighborhood starting at 18 PM on the 30th. Bus routes to Copacabana will have their itineraries altered starting at 20 PM on December 31st and will not enter the neighborhood. From 19 PM on the 31st, only taxis with passengers who have proof of work, residence, or lodging, or personal vehicles, will be allowed to enter the neighborhood. At 22 PM, the blockade will become total, and only pedestrians will be allowed to enter Copacabana.

The mayor said that the event was authorized by the city's scientific committee and that Rio has been registering constant crowds on the beach on sunny and hot weekends. "There were more people who could go to the beach last Sunday than will be able to go to Copacabana Beach tonight." New Year's Eve".

micron

Paes reported that the pandemic figures compiled by the Municipal Health Department do not yet indicate a new surge in cases following the start of summer, Christmas celebrations, and the first confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Brazil. Despite this, he predicts that such an increase is likely to occur.

"It's inevitable that we'll see an increase in the number of cases, I don't know if in the same proportion as developed countries, which have vaccinated less and are experiencing winter, when the probability of the disease spreading is higher," said the mayor, stating that the city is prepared and advocating that the population complete the vaccination schedule. "What is very clear, and increasingly so, is that for those who are vaccinated, the risk of their condition worsening is very low."

Carnival

Regarding Carnival, Paes reiterated that it is still necessary to monitor the epidemiological situation, but again argued that it is important to differentiate between parties where vaccination or COVID-19 testing can be required and open events such as street parades.

"Carnival represents different types of celebration. In some you can establish controls, and in others, you can't," he said. "I'll wait until after the..." New Year's Eve "And to have a meeting with the people from Sebastiana [Independent Association of Street Carnival Groups]. We're talking. There's still a long time until Carnival. We have to keep track of the numbers."

Balance

The mayor presented a summary of the first year of his third term, highlighting that the biggest challenges were controlling the Covid-19 pandemic, fiscal rebalancing, improving service delivery, and preparing the city for the future. Paes was mayor of Rio de Janeiro between 2009 and 2017, and returned to the position this year after being elected in 2020.

For next year, he promised, among other actions, to start a project that aims to eliminate the waiting list for hospital beds in the municipality within 18 months, invest R$ 600 million in road resurfacing, revitalize 150 schools, and promote a bidding process for the acquisition of 600 new articulated buses for the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system.