The New Year is greeted off as leaders warn, Covid loves a crowd

But the display was shorter than usual and people were forbidden to gather along the harbor unless they were in hospitality places, where figures were limited, the New Wales government said. of the South.

New South Wales Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian apologized on Monday for the restrictions, but said they were necessary to prevent a possible publicity event. “On New Year’s Eve, we don’t want any kind of people on the shores around Sydney,” Berejiklian said.

A mass rally on Bronte Beach in Sydney on Christmas Day, in breach of local regulations against Covid-19, caused a public outcry at a time when authorities were facing a backlog of infections in the area. from the beaches north of the city.

Meanwhile, neighboring Victoria State issued coronavirus restrictions nine hours before New Year’s celebrations began. Meetings of more than 15 people are no longer allowed and masks are mandatory inside.

The move came when Victoria reported three new cases of Covid-19 local transmission on Thursday morning, breaking a 61-day streak of zero local transmission cases. There are currently ten active cases in the state, according to the Victoria Department of Health.

New Zealand’s widely envied success in eliminating coronavirus infections meant that New Year’s Eve could be celebrated more or less as usual. Fireworks lit up the night sky over Auckland when the city welcomed the new year.

Several major cities in India issued restrictions on New Year celebrations. Delhi authorities limited public meetings to five people and imposed a curfew during the night between 11pm on 31 December and 6am on New Year’s Day.

Restrictions have also been imposed on Mumbai and Bengaluru. “After 11pm, no parties will be allowed, whether in restaurants, bars, pubs, on the beach or on rooftops … And we will monitor all this with drones,” said S. Chaitanya, a spokesman for Mumbai police. , they told local media.

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

“Leave the holidays until later”

In Europe, where cases have risen sharply in recent months, regular end-of-year holidays have been restricted to many countries.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to “see the New Year safely at home” at a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, saying there had been a 40% increase in cases in England last week.

The UK recorded 981 coronavirus deaths – the highest figure since April – and 50,023 new cases on Wednesday, according to government data, as the country faces the rapid spread of a new, more contagious coronavirus variant. .

“Covid loves a crowd, so please leave the holidays until later,” said NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis, who also urged people to stay home on Cape Town night. of the Year.

As of Thursday, more than three-quarters of the English population now live under the country’s toughest “level 4” restrictions, which require people to stay home except for work, education, exercise or essential activities. . It is not allowed to mix the home inside, while outside, one person from each home can meet with only one person from another home.

The London Metropolitan Police Service sent a warning to potential partygoers to “celebrate the New Year in the comfort of their own homes, not family and friends”.

Ireland’s situation is “extremely serious”

Irish Prime Minister, or Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, on Wednesday announced a full national closure for “at least” a month. The move came after confirmation that the most virulent new strain of coronavirus first discovered in the UK was now in Ireland, he said, fueling a 61% increase in confirmed coronavirus cases the previous week.

Restrictions, which go into effect Thursday, include a ban on home visits and the closure of non-essential stores. Schools will remain closed until January 11th. No social or family gatherings are allowed in any setting, with the exception of very small groups of weddings and funerals.

Martin described the situation as “extremely serious”.

In France, there is a strict curfew from eight in the afternoon to 6 in the morning to try to curb the rise in coronavirus infections, reducing public New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country.

Health Minister Olivier Véran warned on Tuesday that the country could adopt an earlier curfew (from 6pm) from 2 January in areas where the virus is spreading most rapidly. The twenty or more “departments” affected do not include Paris.

According to government guidelines, meetings are limited to six adults, although there may be a large number of children. Restaurants are closed, except for takeaways and cafes, although shops, including non-essential shops, are open. Cinemas, museums and theaters are closed.

There are also harsh restrictions in Germany to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Fear of “super informative events”

South Africa is also facing a less festive New Year period. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced tougher restrictions as new coronavirus infections increased in what he described as an “unprecedented rate.”

According to the toughest regulations, which are in force until mid-January, all indoor and outdoor meetings are banned, curfew across the country has been extended from 9pm to 6am and the sale of alcohol is banned . Wearing a mask was also legally required.

The move came after a new variant of Covid-19 was detected in South Africa and cases increased 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-diffusion events, which include end-of-year functions, family and social gatherings, and musical and cultural events,” Ramaphosa said.

Some leaders have also called for caution in the United States, as coronavirus cases are soaring in many parts of the country.

This year the crowd will not be allowed to enter Times Square in New York City for the famous “ball drop,” which is usually witnessed by thousands of partygoers.

The New Year’s Eve event in Times Square “will look completely different from any other time in history,” Terence A. Monahan, head of the New York City Police Department, said Wednesday.

“We could all agree that 2020 has been a different year from anything else we have experienced,” he said in a briefing, while urging people to stay home with their families. “Don’t come,” he said. “If you think you can stand there and look at the ball, you’re wrong.”

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on Wednesday urged people to “reconsider” the exit to celebrate New Year’s Eve to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

“I haven’t missed Las Vegas being known for being one of the best places in the world to sound the new year. But this year we have to look different,” Sisolak said during a news conference.

“I know people want to celebrate the end of 2020 and I don’t blame them. But if we don’t start making smart decisions in early 2021, we will look a lot and feel a lot more like 2020 than any of us want it to be. “.