Deaths, however, have not risen in kind, bringing hope the new variant is less lethal.Īround the globe, events were scaled back or cancelled outright, such as with the traditional fireworks over the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Worldwide infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, with an average of just over a million cases detected a day between 24 December and 30 December, up 100,000 on the previous peak posted on Wednesday, according to Reuters data. “Covid did hold a lot of stuff back for me,” Ochoa said, “but I mean, I’m here today, so that’s what I’m thankful for.” Pandemic casts pall around worldĪround the world, the Omicron coronavirus variant dampened New Year festivities, with Paris cancelling its fireworks show, London relegating its to television, and Sydney cautiously welcoming 2022. Nursing student Ashley Ochoa and her boyfriend, Jose Avelar, traveled from the central valley of California specifically to be at Times Square. “We’re standing here glad that 2021 will soon be over,” she said, “but really positive about next year.”Įven if the crowds were considerably smaller, people gathered across block after block to witness the ball drop. A New York City tour guide, she was unemployed for a spell as the economy was shuttered and tourism tanked. “I look back and I see it as a sort of a stressful year, but it wasn’t a terrible year,” said Lynn Cafarchio, who braved the crowds to attend the festivities with her husband Pete. Irene Mayoral, left, and Gerald Nuell, of Spain, kiss as they celebrate in Times Square. Officials required those attending the spectacle to wear masks and show proof of vaccination. New York City alone reported a record number of new, confirmed cases – nearly 44,000 – on Wednesday and a similar number on Thursday, according to New York state figures. “We hope that 2022 is much better than this year.”Ĭovid-19 cases in the US have soared to their highest levels on record at more than 265,000 per day on average. “I’m happy that 2021 is over because it caused a lot of problems for everybody,” said Gonzalez. Mary Gonzalez from Mexico City attended the event, standing a few feet away from the crowd. It will just be more meaningful to be in the crowd.” “Definitely I think it’s worth it to come and celebrate. “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. Times Square is often referred to as the crossroads of the world, and city officials insisted on holding the marquee New Year’s Eve event to demonstrate the city’s resiliency even amid a resurgence of the coronavirus. Eric Adams holds up a framed photo of his mother at his swearing-in as New York mayor at Times Square.
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