New Year is greeted in muted fashion as leaders warn, Covid loves a crowd

Many people will want to put 2020 firmly behind them. But governments around the world 2022 with traditional New Year’s Eve parties and street celebrations for fear of accelerating the spread of coronavirus.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, India and Australia are among the many nations where this year’s New Year festivities remained a muted affair.

Exactly a year has passed since mysterious cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, were first reported to the World Health Organization. Over the following 365 days, Covid-19 has extended its reach into every corner of the globe, infecting more than 82 million people and causing at least 1.8 million deaths.

Millions of people are under lockdown and many more face tough restrictions on everyday activities as governments battle to keep health care systems afloat until newly approved vaccines can be rolled out.

he Sydney Harbour fireworks display is seen over a near-empty Sydney Opera House.

In Australia, the traditional firework display lit up the skies above the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

But the display was shorter than usual and people were banned from gathering along the harbor unless they were in hospitality venues, where numbers were capped, the New South Wales government said.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian apologized Monday for the restrictions but said they were necessary to prevent a potential super-spreading event. “On New Year’s Eve, we don’t want any crowds on the foreshores around Sydney whatsoever,” Berejiklian said.

A mass gathering on Sydney’s Bronte Beach on Christmas Day, in breach of local anti-Covid-19 rules, caused public outcry at a time when authorities are tackling a cluster of infections in the city’s northern beaches area.

Meanwhile, the neighboring state of Victoria will issue fresh coronavirus restrictions hours before New Year’s Eve celebrations . Gatherings of more than 15 people are no longer allowed and masks are mandatory indoors.

The move came as Victoria reported three new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases , breaking a 61-day streak of zero locally transmitted cases. There are currently 10 active cases in the state, according to Victoria’s Department of Health.

New Zealand’s widely envied success in stamping out coronavirus infections meant New Year’s Eve could be celebrated more or less as usual. Fireworks lit up the night sky above Auckland as the city will welcome in the New Year.

In Hong Kong, the traditional New Year’s celebrations will be replaced by a virtual countdown with the Hong Kong Tourism Board live streaming a celebratory video to mark the arrival of the New Year.

In China, President Xi Jinping will deliver a taped New Year speech praising the country for its response to the pandemic.

Fireworks will go ahead as planned in Taiwan’s Taipei, although some restrictions will be placed on those attending public viewing spots. According to the Taipei city government’s website, masks are mandatory and peopleare required to bring their cell phones for possible contact tracing. Food and drinks other than water will be banned at the gatherings

People will enjoy the music in the Americas Cup Village during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Auckland, .

Several major cities in India already issued restrictions on New Year’s celebrations. Authorities in Delhi limited public gatherings to five people and will impos an overnight curfew

Restrictions will also imposed in Mumbai and Bengaluru. no parties — whether they are in restaurants, bars, pubs, the beach or on rooftops will be allowed… And we will be monitoring all this through drones,” S. Chaitanya, a spokesperson for Mumbai Police, told local media.

The rate of coronavirus infections has declined steadily in India since October. The country has registered a total of 10.26 million cases, with more than 148,000 deaths.

‘Leave the parties till later’

In Europe, where cases have risen sharply in recent months, the usual end-of-year festivities have been heavily restricted in many countries.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to “see in the New Year safely at home” at a Downing Street press briefing he said there had been a 40% increase in cases in England in the past week.

Ireland situation ‘extremely serious’

Ireland’s Prime Minister, or Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, will announce a full national lockdown The step followed confirmation that the new, more virulent strain of coronavirus first discovered in the UK was now in Ireland, he said, fueling a 61% increase in confirmed coronavirus cases on the previous week.

The restrictions, which will come into force , include a ban on household visits and the closure of non-essential shops. Schools will remain closed until January 11. No social or family gatherings are allowed in any setting, with an exception for very small wedding and funeral groups.

Martin described the situation as “extremely serious.”

In France, a strict curfew will be in place in a bid to stem rising coronavirus infections, curtailing public New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country. Instead, a virtual concert marked the occasion.

Health Minister Olivier Véran warned that the country could adopt an earlier curfew — starting from 6 p.m. — from January 2 in the areas where the virus is spreading fastest. The 20 or more “departments” affected do not include Paris.

Under government guidelines, gatherings are limited to six adults, although any number of children can be present. Restaurants are closed except for takeaway and cafés are closed, although shops, including non-essential shops, are open. Cinemas, museums and theaters are all closed.

Tough restrictions are also in place across Germany to limit the spread of coronavirus. In the Greek capital of Athens, fireworks will mark the beginning of 2022 without the usual crowds. The city will be under a strict lockdown with residents only allowed to leave their homes in specific situation and with a movement permit.

‘Super-spreader events’ fear

South Africa, too, will face a less than festive New Year period. President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce tougher restrictions as new coronavirus infections climbed at what he described as an “unprecedented rate.”

Under the tougher regulations, which are in place until mid-January, all indoor and outdoor gatherings are banned, the nationwide curfew has been extended from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and alcohol sales are banned. Mask wearing was also made a legal requirement.

The move came after a new Covid-19 variant was detected in South Africa and cases surged during the festive season. More than 50,000 new cases have been reported since Christmas Eve, Ramaphosa said.

“The rapid rise in infections is being fueled by so-called super-spreader events, including end-of-year functions, family and social gatherings, and music and cultural events,” Ramaphosa said.

Some leaders have also urged caution in the United States as coronavirus cases soar in many parts of the country.

No crowds will be allowed to enter New York City’s Times Square this year for the famous “ball drop” celebration, usually witnessed by thousands of revelers.

The New Year’s Eve Times Square event “will look completely different than it has any other time in history,” New York Police Department chief Terence A. Monahan said. – BBC