Rio Carnival postponed for the first time in 100 years because of #coronavirus

The Rio de Janeiro Carnival which was set to hit the streets next February has been postponed for the first time in 108-years due to coronavirus.

The carnival attracts millions of visitors to Brazil each year. But Brazil has been one of the countries worst hit by the pandemic with 4.5 million infections and more than 138,000 deaths. Samba schools involved in the parade typically spend the entire year preparing for the event. 

They had warned in July that it would be difficult to organise the carnival, which was to run between Friday, February 12 and Wednesday, February 17, without a vaccine.

Packed crowds dance through the streets and flock to the iconic Sambadrome for massive parades which feature scantily clad dancers, small armies of drummers and all night partying. This event has now been postponed indefinitely. 

The is the first time the event has been cancelled since 1912. 

It was not held then due to the death of the long-time foreign minister Jose Maria da Silva Paranhos Junior.