Everyone seems eager to leave 2020 behind, but we will have to be content to do this from home safely and responsibly (more on this below) due to the pandemic. Times Square is essentially banned this year.
I can probably still watch it from the street, right?
No one will be allowed near One Times Square, where the New Year’s Eve ball comes down to play in the New Year, or near the performance stages. The NYPD is barricading the streets.
“My message to those playing in the new year: please stay home,” said NYPD department head Terrence Monahan on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve. “There are absolutely no spectators allowed in Times Square. There are no public fireworks on Coney Island. And there is no midnight run in Central Park.”
So please keep “Greet the New Year in Times Square” on your wish list for at least another year, and watch the action on the webcast, on television (you’re more “Dick Clark’s Rockin ‘New Year’s Eve With Ryan Seacrest, Billy Porter, And Lucy Hale “or” CNN’s New Year’s Eve hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen “?), Or in the New Year’s Eve app.
Chief Monahan emphasized the virtual element and ensured that people did not have the wrong idea about who is part of the planned festivities.
“This year, everyone will have to see the ball virtually fall in Times Square. And you will see stages along with the talent and crew at Crossroads of the World. – selected for the virus, “said Monahan.
Which streets will be closed and when?
Starting at 3 pm on Thursday, December 31, the NYPD will begin to close the streets around Times Square with barricades for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. These streets include West 45th Street, West 49th Street, 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue.
What if I want to drive through Times Square on Wednesday, December 30?
This is not a good idea – there is a lot of setup and the police say there will be congestion in the area.
How can I get anywhere?
Take public transport.
The NYPD also says, “Street parking will be extremely limited in the Midtown area.” So, leave your cars at home, which should be easy, because you must stay at home!
Are you serious about the New Year at home?
Yes! The Center for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends: “The safest way to celebrate the new year is to celebrate at home with people who live with you or virtually with friends and family.”
As always, if you find yourself near people outside your home / pod, the CDC says:
- Wear a mask.
- Stand at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) away.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
- Wash the hands.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Get a flu shot as soon as possible.
But really, CDC would like you to virtually celebrate and watch a live broadcast at home.