The world-famous samba parade at the Rio de Janeiro Carnival scheduled for February 2021 will not take place  due to the pandemic that has severely affecting Brazil.

“We came to the conclusion that the event should be postponed. said ”Jorge Castanheiras, president of the Independent League of Samba Schools (LIESA), which organizes the parades.

"Samba schools do not have the time or financial and organizational resources to be ready in February," he said.

Rio carnival is an epidemiological nightmare during a pandemic.

Crowds dance through the streets and flock to the city's iconic “Sambadrome” for massive parades with scantily clad dancers, small armies of percussionists, and indoor parties that last all night

The event attracts millions of tourists from all over Brazil and the world every year.

The “carnival” comprises numerous events, from the elite samba school parade contest organized by LIESA to the so-called “blocos”, street or informal parties.

LIESA's announcement applies to samba school competition only. City authorities have yet to announce whether the "blocks" will be allowed.

 Brazil is the country with the second highest death toll in the pandemic after the United States, and it is still struggling to control the virus.

The country has recorded 4.7 million infections and nearly 140,000 deaths from Covid-19 and has averaged nearly 30,000 new cases and 735 new deaths per day over the past two weeks.