Great damage in the New Year was done by Omicron mutation, as the events almost all over the world were relatively subdued, for fear of the spread of the coronavirus, while in some cases the cancellations were not lacking.
New York: Few people in Times Square
The illuminated Waterford crystal ball rolled into Times Square at midnight, but only 15,000 spectators were allowed in the area where they could watch the spectacle., instead of the usual 58,000.
A year ago, the vaccines, which had just become available, offered hope that the COVID-19 pandemic could be brought under control by early 2022. Instead, the emergence of Omicron led to a sharp rise in infections in Worldwide.
New York City recorded a record 44,000 infections on Wednesday and another 43,000 on Thursday, making some wonder if the celebrations should proceed properly.
But officials have decided that an outdoor party for the vaccinated, with masks and distance keeping, would be safe and a better choice than virtually no audience celebrations in 2021.
“I would be lying if I said I was not worried,” said Sue Park, a Columbia University student, one of 15,000 people allowed to attend for life. “I definitely think it’s worth coming and celebrating. It will make more sense in the crowd. “
Quiet Paris and the police presence in Amsterdam
The midnight passed in Paris without the scheduled fireworks display or with music by a DJ on the Champs Elysees, according to the recommendations of the scientific committee that ruled that mass gatherings would be very risky.
In Netherlands, where gatherings of more than four people outdoors are prohibited, the police dismantled thousands of people who had defeated the ban and were concentrated on the Central Square Dam of Amsterdam, the Anp News Agency.
TV fireworks and lasers in London
In the London, where a fireworks display and a lights show were canceled in October, officials announced yesterday, Friday, that the spectacle would come to life on the television screen, as Bin Ben sounded for the first time since 2017 after its renovation.
Footage broadcast by the BBC of the fireworks showed minimal vehicle traffic on the roads and virtually no live spectators.
Spectacular time change in Sydney
A few hours earlier Sydney, in Australia, celebrated the New Year with spectacular fireworks in the harbor above the Opera House.
Celebrations with draconian measures in Spain
People in Madrid lined up for hours to enter the main square of Puerta del Sol where the celebrations took place in the presence of several security checkpoints, mandatory mask use and a capacity of 60%.
Saul Pedrero, a 34-year-old employee, came from Barcelona, ​​which has some of the strictest controls in Spain, including a curfew from 1.00 am.
“It’s like another country. Here you can do everything and nobody says anything “, he said.
A lavish fireworks display lit up the festivities where the Spaniards fill their mouths with 12 grapes to accompany every clock tick at midnight.
Cancellations in Asia
In Asia, celebrations have been cut short or canceled. In South Korea, a traditional midnight bell ceremony was canceled for the second year in a row, as celebrations were canceled in Tokyo’s glamorous Shibuya’s entertainment district, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishinda called on YouTube to allow people to wear masks and wear masks.
China, where the coronavirus first appeared in late 2019, was on high alert, with the city of Xi’an on lockdown and New Year’s events in other cities canceled.
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