The UK, France, Germany, Ireland, India and Australia are among the many nations where this year’s New Year’s Eve festivities will be a no-brainer.
Millions of people are stranded and many others face severe restrictions on their day-to-day activities as governments struggle to keep health care systems afloat until newly approved vaccines can be launched.
In Australia, traditional fireworks lit up the sky over the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge.
However, the display was shorter than usual and people were forbidden to gather 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 Monday for the restrictions, but said they were needed to prevent a potential outbreak. “On New Year’s Eve, we don’t want any crowds on the shores around Sydney,” Berejiklian said.
A mass rally on Bronte Beach in Sydney on Christmas Day, in violation of local anti-Covid-19 rules, sparked public outcry at a time when authorities are tackling a group of infections in the northern beach area.
Meanwhile, neighboring Victoria has issued new restrictions on the coronavirus a few hours before the start of the New Year holidays. Assemblies of more than 15 people are no longer allowed, and masks are mandatory inside.
The move came when Victoria reported three new Covid-19 cases with local transmission on Thursday morning, breaking a 61-day series with zero cases with local transmission. There are currently 10 active cases in the state, according to the Victoria’s Department of Health.
New Zealand’s widely envied success in eliminating coronavirus infections has meant that New Year’s Eve could be celebrated more or less as usual. Fireworks lit up the night sky over Auckland, while the city was greeted in the New Year.
Several major cities in India have issued restrictions on New Year’s holidays. Delhi authorities have limited public gatherings to five people and imposed an overnight shutdown between 23, 31 December and 6 am on New Year’s Day.
Restrictions have also been imposed in Mumbai and Bengaluru. “After 23:00, no parties will be allowed – whether in restaurants, bars, pubs, the beach or on rooftops … And we will monitor all this with drones,” said S. Chaitanya, a spokesman for Mumbai police told local media.
The rate of coronavirus infections has been steadily declining in India since October. The country recorded a total of 10.26 million cases, with over 148,000 deaths.
“Leave the parties until later”
In Europe, where cases have risen sharply in recent months, the usual end-of-year festivities have been severely restricted in many countries.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to “see the new year safely at home” at a press briefing in Downing Street on Wednesday, as he said there had been a 40% increase in cases in England in the past week.
The UK recorded 981 coronavirus deaths – the highest figure since April – and 50,023 new cases on Wednesday, government figures show, as the country faces the rapid spread of a new, more contagious coronavirus variant.
“Covid loves the crowd, so please leave the parties until later,” said NHS England National Medical Director Stephen Powis, as he urged people to stay home on New Year’s Eve.
As of Thursday, more than three-quarters of the English population now lives under the harshest “level 4” restrictions in the country, which require people to stay home, except for work, education, exercise or essential activities. It is not allowed to mix the household inside, while outside, one person from each household can meet only one person from another household.
The London Metropolitan Police Service has issued a warning to potential party participants to “celebrate the New Year in the comfort of their own homes, not in the homes of family and friends.”
Ireland’s ‘extremely serious’ situation
The Prime Minister of Ireland, or Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, announced on Wednesday a complete national blockade for “at least” a month. The move followed confirmation that the new, more virulent strain of coronavirus first discovered in the UK is now in Ireland, he said, fueling a 61% increase in confirmed coronavirus cases in the previous week.
Restrictions, which take effect on Thursday, include a ban on household visits and the closure of non-essential stores. Schools will remain closed until January 11. Social or family gatherings are not allowed in any setting, except for very small groups of weddings and funerals.
Martin described the situation as “extremely serious”.
In France, there is a strict shutdown between 20:00 and 6:00, in an attempt to stop growing 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 time – starting at 18:00 – starting on January 2 in the areas where the virus spreads the fastest. The 20 or more affected “departments” do not include Paris.
According to government guidelines, meetings are limited to six adults, although as many children as possible may be present. Restaurants are closed, except for dining, and cafes are closed, although shops, including non-essential shops, are open. Cinemas, museums and theaters are closed.
There are also strict restrictions throughout Germany to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Fear of “super-widespread events”
And South Africa is facing a less festive New Year. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced tougher restrictions on Monday as new coronavirus infections rose to what he described as an “unprecedented rate”.
Under stricter regulations, which are in effect until mid-January, all indoor and outdoor gatherings are banned, national coverage has been extended from 9pm to 6am and alcohol sales are banned. Wearing a mask was also a legal requirement.
The move came after a new Covid-19 variant 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 growth of infections is fueled by so-called super-widespread events, including 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 on the rise in many parts of the country.
No crowd will be allowed to enter Times Square in New York this year for the famous “balloon” celebration, usually attended by thousands of partygoers.
The Times Square New Year’s Eve event “will look completely different than it has at any other time in history,” New York Police Department Chief Terence A. Monahan said Wednesday.
“We could all agree that 2020 was a different year than anything we’ve experienced,” he said in a briefing, urging people to stay home with their families. “Don’t come,” he said. “If you think you’ll be able to sit there and watch the ball, you’re wrong.”
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak on Wednesday urged people to “reconsider” the outings to celebrate New Year’s Eve to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the state.
“It’s not lost on me that Las Vegas is known for being one of the best places in the world to call in the new year. But this year, we have to look different,” Sisolak said during a news briefing.
“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 at the beginning of 2021, we will look a lot and feel a lot more like 2020 than any of us want to be. ”
Sarah Dean, Swati Gupta, Gisela Crespo, Pauline Lockwood and Ben Westcott contributed to this report.