New Year’s Eve Celebrations Muted Once Again by Covid-19
January 1, 2022 | Georgia, North Carolina
After the somber welcome that greeted 2021, many people saw this year’s holiday season as a time to revel in a return to near-normal. But New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world have once again been canceled or scaled back amid a new wave of Covid-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant.
In Germany, large public gatherings, including those held outdoors, have been banned in some places. France barred drinking on the streets and canceled many fireworks displays, including in Paris. London and San Francisco also axed their fireworks shows. New York City scaled down its Times Square celebration, while Atlanta canceled its Peach Drop.
Even with early data suggesting Omicron produces a milder form of Covid-19, leaders and public-health experts have urged people to take extra precautions during the holidays as patients flood emergency rooms and urgent-care centers.
“Omicron and Delta are coming to your party, so you need to think twice,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told residents earlier this week. …
(Excerpts from the Wall Street Journal)
