A French mayor hosted 3,500 people dressed as Smurfs for a world record attempt this weekend amid accusations the event risked the spread of coronavirus.
Patrick Leclerc, the mayor of Landerneau in western France, today defended his decision to go ahead with the rally on Saturday.
‘We must not stop living… it was the chance to say that we are alive,’ he said.
The event, for which thousands painted their bodies blue to resemble the character, came a day before France banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Thousands dressed as Smurfs attend a world record gathering of the Belgian character in Landerneau, western France on Saturday
The new restrictions are being applied nationwide after they were previously announced in virus hotspots, health minister Olivier Veran said at the weekend.
‘The priority is to do all we can to slow the transmission of the virus,’ he said.
The government had already banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people in confined venues.
There have been 1,412 cases of coronavirus confirmed in France so-far, with 30 deaths reported as a result of the virus.
The rally drew criticism largely from Italy, which is battling Europe’s most intense outbreak of the virus with 463 deaths confirmed amid 9,172 patients.
Patrick Leclerc, the mayor of Landerneau in western France, today defended his decision to go ahead with the rally (pictured) despite growing fears over coronavirus
The event, for which thousands painted their bodies blue to resemble the character, came a day before France banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people
A young girl dressed as Smurfette sits on a man’s shoulders as she attends the event on Saturday
The rally (pictured) drew criticism largely from Italy, which is battling Europe’s most intense outbreak of the virus with 463 deaths confirmed amid 9,172 patients
It was described as ‘potentially a very dangerous viral bomb’ by La Repubblica, an Italian daily newspaper.
The Il Secolo XIX newspaper also dubbed the rally an ‘irresponsible move’ that could significantly increase the risk of contagion.
But fans of the Belgian cartoon descended on the Breton town on Saturday to break the world record for a gathering of Smurfs.
Mr Leclerc insisted that the revellers, who painted their hands and faces blue and sported white pointy hats, had violated no ban and were a necessary antidote to an ‘ambient gloom’.
There have been 1,412 cases of coronavirus confirmed in France so-far, with 30 deaths reported as a result of the virus
It was described as ‘potentially a very dangerous viral bomb’ by La Repubblica, an Italian daily newspaper
The Il Secolo XIX newspaper also dubbed the rally an ‘irresponsible move’ that could significantly increase the risk of contagion
A participant takes a photograph of a group of Smurfs standing behind a golden frame
‘We’ve been preparing for a month,’ one of the Smurfs, Isabelle, said at the event.
‘We got our costumes from all the shops in the area and we figured that a bit of fun would do us all good at the moment.’
The results of the world record attempt, which was previously set at 2,762 in Lauchringen, Germany last year, must now be validated by an official who will send their conclusions to Guinness World Records bosses.
The attempt comes after Disneyland Paris confirmed yesterday that a maintenance worker at the theme park had tested positive for COVID-19.
However, the park confirmed it would remain open with hand gel provided to visitors and guests told to keep their distance in the queue for rides, French media said.
Disneyland staff are now checking on colleagues who had been in contact with the infected worker, who tested positive over the weekend.
The results of the world record attempt must now be validated by an official who will send their conclusions to Guinness World Records bosses