For the first time in decades, Rio de Janeiro's New Year's Eve beach party has been cancelled. 

Rio’s authorities decided to ban one of the world’s most famous end-of-the year events as the city is facing a new surge of COVID-19. 

It is a blow to the city`s residents and tourists, but it is the only alternative to avoid another increase in cases and more fatalities in Brazil. 

CGTN's Lucrecia Franco, in Rio de Janeiro, reports.

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