New Year is silently greeted, as leaders warn, Covid loves crowds

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

New South Wales Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian apologized on Monday for the restrictions, but said they were necessary to avoid a possible over-propagation event. “On New Year’s Eve, we don’t want any crowds on the shores around Sydney,” said Berejiklian.

A mass meeting on Sydney’s Bronte Beach on Christmas Day, in violation of local anti-Covid-19 rules, sparked public protests as authorities are dealing with a group of infections on the city’s northern beaches. .

Meanwhile, the neighboring state of Victoria issued new restrictions on coronavirus hours before New Year’s Eve celebrations began. Meetings of more than 15 people are no longer allowed and masks are mandatory indoors.

The change came when Victoria reported three new cases of Covid-19 transmitted locally on Thursday morning, breaking a 61-day sequence of zero cases transmitted locally. Currently, there are 10 active cases in the state, according to the Health Department of Vitória.

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

Several major cities in India have imposed restrictions on New Year celebrations. The authorities in Delhi limited public meetings to five people and imposed an overnight curfew between 11 pm on December 31 and 6 am on New Year’s Day.

Restrictions were also imposed in Mumbai and Bengaluru. “After 11 pm, no parties – whether in restaurants, bars, pubs, on the beach or on rooftops will be allowed … And we will monitor all of these by drones,” S. Chaitanya, Mumbai Police spokesman, told the media local.

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

‘Leave the parties for later’

In Europe, where cases have increased dramatically in recent months, the usual year-end festivities have been severely restricted in many countries.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked people to “watch the New Year safely at home” at a news conference in Downing Street on Wednesday, as he said there was a 40% increase in cases in England last week.

The UK recorded 981 deaths from coronavirus – its highest number since April – and 50,023 new cases on Wednesday, government data show, as the country struggles with the rapid spread of a new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus.

“Covid loves a crowd, so please leave the parties for later,” said NHS England National Medical Director Stephen Powis, urging people to stay home on New Year’s Eve.

As of Thursday, more than three-quarters of the English population are living under the country’s toughest “level 4” restrictions, which require people to stay at home, except for work, education, exercise or essential activities. No domestic mixtures are allowed inside the house, while outside, one person from each family can meet only one person from another house.

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

Ireland’s situation ‘extremely serious’

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

The restrictions, which take effect Thursday, include a ban on home visits and the closure of non-essential stores. Schools will remain closed until January 11. No social or family gatherings are allowed in any setting, with the exception of very small wedding and funeral groups.

Martin described the situation as “extremely serious”.

In France, a strict curfew from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am is in place in an attempt to stem 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 early curfew – from 6 pm – from 2 January in areas where the virus spreads most rapidly. The 20 or more “departments” affected do not include Paris.

According to government guidelines, meetings are limited to six adults, although any number of children may be present. Restaurants are closed, except for take-away and cafes are closed, although stores, including non-essential stores, are open. Cinemas, museums and theaters are all closed.

Severe restrictions also exist across Germany to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Fear of ‘super-propagating events’

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

According to the strictest regulations, which are in effect until mid-January, all internal and external meetings are prohibited, the curfew across the country has been extended from 9 pm to 6 am and alcohol sales have been banned. The use of a mask has also become a legal requirement.

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

“The rapid increase in infections is being fueled by so-called over-propagation events, including end-of-year events, family and social gatherings and musical and cultural events,” said Ramaphosa.

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

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

The New Year’s Eve event in Times Square “will be completely different than at any other time in history,” New York Police Department chief Terence A. Monahan said on Wednesday.

“We can all agree that 2020 was a year unlike anything we’ve ever experienced,” he said in an interview, urging people to stay home with their families. “Don’t come,” he said. “If you think you’ll be able to stand by and watch the ball, you’re wrong.”

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak on Wednesday asked people to “reconsider” going out to celebrate New Year’s Eve to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

“It has not gone unnoticed that Las Vegas is known to be one of the best places in the world to play in the new year. But this year, we must look different,” said Sisolak 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 choices in early 2021, we’ll look a lot more like 2020 than any of us want it to be.”