2022 New Year celebrations around the world were called off as the coronavirus casts a gloom over festivities for a second year, Reuters reported on Friday.
Global coronavirus infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, with an average of just over one million cases detected a day worldwide, according to Reuters data.
Accordingly, authorities in many places have called off celebrations to welcome in 2022 amid fears of the Omicron variant. However, countries around the world are trying their best to celebrate the new year in a safe manner.
Australia
In spite of surges in infections to record levels in some places, Australia is determined to ring in the New Year with a bang.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison wished people to “enjoy the evening”, while Dominic Perrottet, premier of New South Wales state, urged everyone to “head out and enjoy New Year” even as daily infections in the state nearly doubled to a record 21,151.
“Our position remains incredibly strong,” Perrottet told reporters.
Nevertheless, social distancing rules are in place, and masks are required indoors in Sydney but thousands of people are expected to flock to its harbourside to watch New Year fireworks.
North Korea
North Korea also started preparing to buck the trend and celebrate the New Year with midnight fireworks at Kim Il Sung Square in its capital, Pyongyang.
The Rodong Sinmun state-run newspaper ran photographs of flower shops in Pyongyang crowded with mask-wearing customers buying blooms for the celebrations.
China
China, where the coronavirus first emerged in late 2019, had the city of Xian under lockdown and cancelled New Year events in other cities, urging restraint.
Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took to his official YouTube channel to urge people to wear masks at parties and limit the number of people attending.
India
Indian authorities started to impose stringent rules, on Thursday, to prevent the spike in COVID-19 infections.
Officials said night curfews have been imposed in all major cities and restaurants ordered to limit customers, adding that mass gatherings at parties and public venues ahead of new year celebrations are not allowed in the country
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