The show must not go on for Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival

Symbolizing a final period of festivity before the Christian season of Lent, this year’s carnival celebrations in Brazil and around the world were originally scheduled to take place between February 13 and 16. However, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, all of Brazil’s big carnival destinations have suspended their celebrations. Some have pushed the festival back until the middle of the year, while others are hesitant to schedule a new date until vaccination coverage in Brazil reaches a satisfactory level.

In the case of Rio de Janeiro, home to the world’s most famous carnival parades which attract millions of people each year, the celebrations had initially been delayed until July.

However, the city’s new mayor, Eduardo Paes, has ruled out this possibility.

In a sequence of social media posts, Mr. Paes said it would be “impossible” to prepare the city for an out-of-season carnival, even with coronavirus vaccination in progress.

“I’ve never hid my passion for Carnival and the clear view I have of the economic importance for this cultural manifestation for our city. However, it seems senseless to imagine at this point that we would be able to hold...