Fri 24 December 2021:
The coronavirus pandemic seems to have cast its evil eye on this event in New York’s Times Square, which is known for its extravagant-style countdown to the new year. Times Square, like the majority of entertainment venues around the world, has cut back its celebrations this year.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that the city’s New Year celebrations will be drastically scaled back due to fears of an approaching wave of the Omicron form of coronavirus.
On New Year’s Eve, Times Square usually attracts about 58,000 people, with celebrities performing their greatest talents and people having the opportunity to dine, drink, dance, and ring in the new year with their loved and chosen ones.
This year, though, just 15,000 people will be permitted to enter the grounds. There’s a chance that, like last year, people may be divided into separate pods, with each pod housing people from the same group.
Attendees will be required to wear a face mask at all times this year, as well as show proof of being fully vaccinated before entering the ‘party area.’ This year’s measures “will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year,” according to de Blasio.
This year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are predicted to be better than last year’s, when Times Square was mostly vacant. Last year, the majority of the essential staff and a few invited, ticketed guests were assigned to pods with a defined maximum capacity.
To prevent the spread of infection, these pods were arranged at a distance and in a zig-zag pattern. Some onlookers who were unable to reach their allocated pods stood near the barricades, which were put at a safe distance from the set stage for performers and the pods to ensure that the area was not overcrowded.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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