Her pandemic Covid-19 will once again affect the New Year celebrations, as many countries have already imposed restrictions amid a fierce wave of infections that are putting pressure on health systems.
At Europe Traditional concerts and fireworks shows, which usually attract thousands of spectators on the streets, have been canceled in most major cities, including London, Paris, Zurich, Brussels, Warsaw and Rome.
At Germany, the states tighten protection measures in view of New Year's Eve, which in Germany is traditionally celebrated with large gatherings in public places. The operation of nightclubs has been suspended throughout the country, while major sports and arts events are held without spectators. Private meetings are allowed for up to 10 people - including the vaccinated and the sick. In most states the celebration of the change of time outdoors has been banned, as has the use of sparklers. In Hamburg, where the biggest outbreak of "Omicron" is observed, the operation of catering businesses has also been restricted until 23:00, with the exception of 31 December, where opening hours are extended until 01:00, but only for seated people. while dancing is prohibited, among other things.
At Austria, with strict restrictions will take place the New Year Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, due to the pandemic. According to the organizers, the spectators will be limited to 1.000, who will be vaccinated or sick and, in addition, will have undergone a molecular diagnostic test for coronavirus, within 48 hours of the concert. Spectators are required to wear an FFP2 protective mask throughout their stay at the Friends of Music building in Vienna.
At Britain, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that festive events to be held in the British capital on New Year's Eve are being canceled due to the rapid increase in Omicron cases in Britain. "This means that we will not be organizing the event with 6.500 people in Trafalgar Square on New Year's Eve," he explained. Instead, the BBC will broadcast an "impressive show" covering the highlights of 2021. Omicron is also canceling traditional three-day New Year celebrations in Scotland, as announced by Prime Minister Nicola Sterz. .
In France, nightclubs, which have been closed since December 10, will remain closed for the next three weeks. Paris canceled the fireworks show, as well as other festive events on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées for New Year's Eve, in order to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant. French Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced a ban on major New Year's Eve celebrations and fireworks and has advised French citizens, even if vaccinated, to take a diagnostic test for COVID-19, before meeting with other people to celebrate the New Year.
At Spain, the celebrations have been canceled in most areas and 9 of the 10 most populous cities in the country will not celebrate the custom of "campanadas", where bells ring to signal the arrival of the new year. Madrid alone will hold a small event in the famous Puerta del Sol square, with spectators limited to 7.000 - always in masks - compared to 18.000 in 2019, before the pandemic.
Η Italy has tightened restrictions, including banning all public New Year's Eve celebrations. The Ministry of Interior has sent instructions to all the prefects of the country, with the aim of increasing the controls in view of the New Year. The Draghi government has called for tighter controls to enforce a decision banning celebrations, parties, indoor dancing and crowded concerts in the open. At the same time, police, carabinieri and men and women of the police and financial police will have to guarantee the observance of the new measures concerning bars and restaurants: in restaurants now only vaccinated people are allowed to enter, while in coffee bars, the unvaccinated will be able to they come in only to get food or packaged drinks, which should never be consumed in the store.
Η Czech republic requires from December 27 all foreign visitors entering the country to show a negative PCR test before entering - unless they have taken a booster dose - in order to limit the spread of Omicron during the New Year celebrations. Prague, which is usually a popular New Year's Eve destination, with crowds filling bars and celebrating in the streets, will allow the New Year to be celebrated this year as the state of emergency closes pubs at 10 a.m. evening ended on December 25th. After December 29, up to 50 people are allowed to gather for various events, with the exception of those seated in theaters and cultural venues. The restaurants have now reduced the number of customers to 4 people per table.
At USA, New York has significantly reduced the number of people allowed to be in Times Square for New Year's Eve events, according to what has been announced by the mayor of the city Bill de Blasio. This year, the city will allow about a third of the usual number of spectators in these areas to be demarcated in the square, in order to allow greater social distance. Attendees must present a certificate of complete vaccination and wear masks. "Normally, about 58.000 people are hosted in the spectator seats, this year's celebration will have 15.000 people," according to the mayor. In addition, the entrance to these places will start at 3 pm, later than in previous years.
In Μαρόκο, the government announced a series of measures that will be implemented on the evening of December 31 to January 1, including the ban on all New Year celebrations, the organization of New Year's Eve in hotels, restaurants and tourist units, the closure of restaurants and cafes at 11.30 am night and the imposition of a night curfew from midnight to 6 am.
At India, authorities have begun tightening restrictions to prevent mass gatherings at parties and public places ahead of New Year celebrations as the country sees an increase in cases COVID-19. According to officials, night traffic has been imposed in all major cities and restaurants have been ordered to reduce the number of their customers.
At Malaysia, mass celebrations for the New Year were banned, while those who attend private gatherings must have self-tested, as announced by the Ministry of Health.
However, despite the increase in cases, some areas will hold their scheduled events, such as the Sydney, the first major city to host in 2022, hosts the annual fireworks display over the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. Last year, the state banned people from watching the fireworks closely, when the cases were a few hundred compared to more than 12.000 new infections announced yesterday (Thursday).
Source: RES-EAP