NEW YORK (Al Jazeera) – The
Omicron coronavirus variant dampened new year festivities around much of the world with Paris cancelling its fireworks show, London relegating it to television and New York City scaling down its famous ball drop celebration in Times Square.
The illuminated ball made of Waterford crystal panels slid down its pole at midnight in Times Square, but only 15,000 people were allowed into the official viewing area.
New Year’s Eve, which used to be celebrated globally with a free-spirited wildness, felt instead like a case of deja vu, with the fast-spreading Omicron variant again filling hospitals, especially across Europe and the United States.
A year ago, the newly available vaccine offered hope that the COVID-19 pandemic may be under control by the start of 2022. Instead, the sudden arrival of Omicron has brought a surge in coronavirus cases across the globe.
“I would be lying if I said I’m not concerned,” said Sue Park, a Columbia University student who was one of the 15,000 allowed to watch in person. “Definitely, I think it’s worth it to come and celebrate.”
Midnight passed in Paris without a planned fireworks display or DJ sets, as city officials cancelled events planned on the Champs-Elysees following the advice of a scientific panel that declared mass gatherings would be too risky.
In Berlin, police urged people not to gather near the Brandenburg Gate, where a concert was staged without a live audience.
In the Netherlands, where outside groupings of more than four people are banned, police dispersed several thousand people who had defiantly gathered at Amsterdam’s central Dam Square, ANP news agency reported.
But in London, where a fireworks display and light show was cancelled in October, officials announced on Friday the spectacle would come to life on the television screen, as Big Ben rang in the New Year for the first time since 2017 following its restoration.
BBC images of the fireworks showed very light vehicle traffic and virtually no in-person spectators.
Cape Town in South Africa – where the Omicron variant was first reported – abruptly lifted a curfew just in time for the New Year.
“I’m just hoping that Cape Town goes back to the old Cape Town that we all knew about,” said Michael Mchede, manager of a Hard Rock Cafe by the white sands of Camps Bay Beach, who was thrilled to get the place ready to host an unexpected bash.