Yesterday, the 17th, during a concert by pop singer Taylor Swift , fan Ana Clara Benevides Machado died due to the heat. The heat index in Rio de Janeiro, the location of the concert, was almost 60 degrees Celsius. The fan became ill, was assisted by firefighters, taken to the hospital, but did not survive.
In a statement, Justice Minister Flávio Dino determined that, following this incident, bringing water bottles into concerts and shows will be permitted, something that was previously prohibited.
The regulation also requires that show producers must provide free drinking water in easily accessible "hydration stations" at events with high heat exposure.
Dino also mentioned in his message that "the measure is effective immediately and that the ordinance will be issued within a maximum of 1 hour.".
The Minister of Justice also said that "it is unacceptable that people suffer, faint, and even die due to lack of access to water."
Ordinance published
The decree was indeed published and posted by the Minister of Justice at 1:44 PM, as can be seen below:
T4F Positioning
T4F the organizer of Taylor Swift's shows, made two posts on their social media. The first, lamenting the death of Ana Clara Benevides Machado:
In a subsequent statement, T4F confirmed that it will "increase the supply of free water in queues and at all entrances and access points to the stadium and inside it."
The production company also stated that "entry into the stadium will be permitted with sealed cups of water and sealed pre-packaged food, with no limit on the number of items per person.".
However, the note mentions that "the ban on bringing water bottles into stadiums is a requirement made by public bodies." Therefore, it does not take into account the newly published ordinance that allows the entry of water bottles for personal use.
Also check out the statement from the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, ordering the change that will be applied to all shows, including metal shows:
UPDATE – 11/18/2023 5:59 PM
Taylor Swift's second show in Rio, scheduled for today, the 18th, has been canceled. In a handwritten note, the singer said: “I am writing this from my dressing room at the stadium. The decision has been made to postpone tonight's show due to the extreme temperatures in Rio. The safety and well-being of my fans, fellow artists, and technical team must and always will be my top priority.”