Rio de Janeiro cancels NYE ​​party due to omicron concerns

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Rio de Janeiro has canceled its New Year’s Eve party due to COVID-19 concerns extending. Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes announced the decision on social media on Saturday. Paes had previously promised the biggest New Year’s Eve party ever, with fireworks and performers on dozens of stages across the city. He said no decision has been made on Carnival taking place in March. The annual celebration on Copacabana beach previously brought together more than a million locals and tourists. Other Brazilian cities, including Sao Paulo and Salvador, have also canceled New Year’s Eve celebrations due to concerns about the omicron variation.