German Bavarian Authorities Officially Cancel The World's Largest Beer Festival Oktoberfest

Ilustrasi Oktoberfest. (Wikimedia Commons / DerHexer)

JAKARTA - For the second time in two consecutive years, the German Oktoberfest beer festival was canceled, along with the announcement of the Bavarian State authorities, Monday 3 May.

Initially, this famous festival will be held on 18 September to 3 October in Munich. However, health considerations related to the COVID-19 pandemic have made this festival canceled again.

"The health situation is still too uncertain, for the most comprehensive meeting of all to be held in the fall," Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder said in a press release.

Responding to this decision, Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter described the announcement as 'bitter'. However, he continued, the decision was not too surprising for many, given the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to estimates, more than 6.3 million people visit Munich, Germany each year to attend the event.

"Although most people in Germany and possibly Europe will be vaccinated in September, the worldwide pandemic is not over yet. And that the risk of some people being infected by COVID-19 during festival times is too great," Reiter said.

Germany is currently in the midst of a lockdown that includes a ban on large gatherings, with an infection rate of 146.9 new weekly infections per 100,000 population.

Meanwhile, the infection rate in Bavaria is slightly below the national average with 145.4 new weekly infections per 100,000, according to the country's center for disease control, the Robert Koch Institute.

After the canceled Oktoberfest last year, some 50 beer stalls and a number of other venues, held small parties under strict guidelines. Mayor Dieter Reiter also hopes that this can be done again, with certain limitations.

To note, this announcement is less than two weeks after the German Parliament introduced a law 'federal emergency brake' which plans a series of lockdowns in place, in areas that have an incidence of more than 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants for three consecutive days.

These restrictions include the closure of non-essential shops, restrictions on household gatherings and a curfew starting at 10 p.m.