NEW YORK: The Omicron edition clouded New Year’s celebrations around the world, Paris canceled its fireworks show, London removed it on television, and New York City reduced its famous ball drop celebration in Times Square. Gave.
The illuminated ball made of Waterford crystal panels slid down from its pole in Times Square at midnight, but only 15,000 spectators were allowed official viewing instead of the usual 58,000. A year ago, the newly available vaccine raised hopes that the COVID-19 pandemic could be under control by early 2022. Instead, Omicron’s sudden arrival has led to a surge in coronavirus cases around the world.
Worldwide infections hit record highs in the past seven-day period, with an average of more than a million cases detected between December 24 and December 30, nearly the previous peak posted on Wednesday, according to Reuters data. was 100,000. However, the deaths have not increased, giving hope that the new version will be less lethal. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus He said he is optimistic that the COVID-19 pandemic will be defeated in 2022, provided countries work together to contain its spread.
Ghebreyesus warned against “narrow nationalism and vaccine hoarding” in his New Year’s statement. His remarks come two years after the WHO was first informed about cases of an unknown pneumonia strain in China. He warned that the continued disparity in vaccine distribution is increasing the risk of the virus developing. “If we end inequality, we end the pandemic.”
New York City reported a record 44,000 cases on Wednesday and another 43,000 on Thursday, prompting some critics to question whether celebrations should go ahead. But officials decided that an outdoor party of those vaccinated, masked and socially distanced was safe, and a better option than the nearly empty celebration to be held in 2021. One student said, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried.” Personal viewing was allowed. “But I think it’s worth coming and celebrating.”
President Joe Biden noted the loss and uncertainty caused by the pandemic but said: “We are determined. We are recovering”. “Back to work. Back to school. Back to happiness,” he said in a video post. “That’s how we made it through this year. And that’s how we’ll embrace the next. Together.” Meanwhile, airlines canceled more than 2,400 flights across the US as of Saturday afternoon, the worst day ever in the industry’s week-long struggle with bad weather and crew shortages.
Elsewhere around the world, events were scaled back or cancelled, along with traditional fireworks over the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Midnight in Paris passed without a planned fireworks display or DJ set, as authorities canceled planned events on the Champs-lysées following advice from a scientific panel that declared mass gatherings would be too risky.
In London, where fireworks displays and light shows were canceled in October, officials announced Friday that the spectacle on TV screens will come to life as Big Ben plays for the first time since 2017 following a resumption in the new year Was. UK health secretary Sajid Javido Reiterated his view that the country should try to live with Kovid. The new restrictions should be “absolutely a last resort”, he wrote in the Daily Mail, citing the “huge health, social and economic costs of the lockdown”. England reported a record high daily total of 162,572 cases on Saturday, up from 160,276 the previous day.
Cape Town abruptly lifted the curfew just in time for the new year, when South Africa became the first country to declare that the omicron wave had peaked – and there was no major increase in deaths. South Africa was the first to sound the alarm about the new rapidly spreading variant racing around the world.
In Berlin, police urged people not to gather near the Brandenburg Gate, where a concert was staged without a live audience. Under the sun at the Vatican on New Year’s Day, Pope Francis encouraged people to focus on the good, acknowledging that the pandemic has left many struggling. “We are still living in uncertain and difficult times because of the pandemic,” the 85-year-old pontiff told the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
People in Madrid wait in line for hours to get in sun gate The square where the festivities proceeded with multiple security checkpoints, mandatory masks and capacity at 60% of normal levels. saul pedrero, a clerk traveled from Barcelona, which has some of Spain’s strictest controls, including a 1am curfew. “It feels like another country.”
In Asia, celebrations were mostly abbreviated or cancelled. In Seoul, South Korea, the traditional midnight bell-ringing event was canceled for a second year, while celebrations were banned in Tokyo’s glittering Shibuya district. Dubai went ahead with its celebrations without stopping with 36 fireworks displays at 29 locations. But officials warned they would fine anyone not wearing a mask. There is hope that 2022 may bring about a new, less deadly phase of the pandemic. “Hopefully 2022 is going to be better,” said Oscar Ramirez, 31, in Sydney. “Everyone in the world needs a big change.”
The illuminated ball made of Waterford crystal panels slid down from its pole in Times Square at midnight, but only 15,000 spectators were allowed official viewing instead of the usual 58,000. A year ago, the newly available vaccine raised hopes that the COVID-19 pandemic could be under control by early 2022. Instead, Omicron’s sudden arrival has led to a surge in coronavirus cases around the world.
Worldwide infections hit record highs in the past seven-day period, with an average of more than a million cases detected between December 24 and December 30, nearly the previous peak posted on Wednesday, according to Reuters data. was 100,000. However, the deaths have not increased, giving hope that the new version will be less lethal. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus He said he is optimistic that the COVID-19 pandemic will be defeated in 2022, provided countries work together to contain its spread.
Ghebreyesus warned against “narrow nationalism and vaccine hoarding” in his New Year’s statement. His remarks come two years after the WHO was first informed about cases of an unknown pneumonia strain in China. He warned that the continued disparity in vaccine distribution is increasing the risk of the virus developing. “If we end inequality, we end the pandemic.”
New York City reported a record 44,000 cases on Wednesday and another 43,000 on Thursday, prompting some critics to question whether celebrations should go ahead. But officials decided that an outdoor party of those vaccinated, masked and socially distanced was safe, and a better option than the nearly empty celebration to be held in 2021. One student said, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried.” Personal viewing was allowed. “But I think it’s worth coming and celebrating.”
President Joe Biden noted the loss and uncertainty caused by the pandemic but said: “We are determined. We are recovering”. “Back to work. Back to school. Back to happiness,” he said in a video post. “That’s how we made it through this year. And that’s how we’ll embrace the next. Together.” Meanwhile, airlines canceled more than 2,400 flights across the US as of Saturday afternoon, the worst day ever in the industry’s week-long struggle with bad weather and crew shortages.
Elsewhere around the world, events were scaled back or cancelled, along with traditional fireworks over the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Midnight in Paris passed without a planned fireworks display or DJ set, as authorities canceled planned events on the Champs-lysées following advice from a scientific panel that declared mass gatherings would be too risky.
In London, where fireworks displays and light shows were canceled in October, officials announced Friday that the spectacle on TV screens will come to life as Big Ben plays for the first time since 2017 following a resumption in the new year Was. UK health secretary Sajid Javido Reiterated his view that the country should try to live with Kovid. The new restrictions should be “absolutely a last resort”, he wrote in the Daily Mail, citing the “huge health, social and economic costs of the lockdown”. England reported a record high daily total of 162,572 cases on Saturday, up from 160,276 the previous day.
Cape Town abruptly lifted the curfew just in time for the new year, when South Africa became the first country to declare that the omicron wave had peaked – and there was no major increase in deaths. South Africa was the first to sound the alarm about the new rapidly spreading variant racing around the world.
In Berlin, police urged people not to gather near the Brandenburg Gate, where a concert was staged without a live audience. Under the sun at the Vatican on New Year’s Day, Pope Francis encouraged people to focus on the good, acknowledging that the pandemic has left many struggling. “We are still living in uncertain and difficult times because of the pandemic,” the 85-year-old pontiff told the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
People in Madrid wait in line for hours to get in sun gate The square where the festivities proceeded with multiple security checkpoints, mandatory masks and capacity at 60% of normal levels. saul pedrero, a clerk traveled from Barcelona, which has some of Spain’s strictest controls, including a 1am curfew. “It feels like another country.”
In Asia, celebrations were mostly abbreviated or cancelled. In Seoul, South Korea, the traditional midnight bell-ringing event was canceled for a second year, while celebrations were banned in Tokyo’s glittering Shibuya district. Dubai went ahead with its celebrations without stopping with 36 fireworks displays at 29 locations. But officials warned they would fine anyone not wearing a mask. There is hope that 2022 may bring about a new, less deadly phase of the pandemic. “Hopefully 2022 is going to be better,” said Oscar Ramirez, 31, in Sydney. “Everyone in the world needs a big change.”
,