Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as New Year’s Eve celebrations begin in Sydney, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. (AP/PTI Photo)
While Indian tourists celebrate New Year’s with beach party in Goa, Bengaluru witnessed no New Year celebrations on MG Road, Brigade Road over Omicron threat.
Around the world, South Africans cheered its government’s decision to lift the midnight curfew in place after nearly two years of Covid-19 restrictions, a relief for businesses and citizens just ahead of New Year celebrations. On Thursday, South Africa became the first country to say that it believed it had passed the peak of a wave of coronavirus infections caused by the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Australia and New Zealand lit up with fireworks in Sydney and Aukland respectively as they ringed in the New Year 2022. With the Omicron virus surging across India and the world, various restrictions have forced people to stay back at home this New Year’s Eve. As we bid farewell to the old year on Friday, the night might be much quieter around the country with curbs kicking in across all states.
As the New Year rings in, most countries are either on the verge of or in the middle of a new wave of coronavirus infections, courtesy the Omicron variant of the virus. While both the US and UK have been reporting record number of cases each day, experts in India believe that the country is on the verge of a third wave.
Restrictions have been clamped across India on New Year celebrations. While festivities have been completely banned in states like Delhi and Karnataka, others have brought in strict restrictions, such as curfews, to control the spread of the virus.
Internationally, too, celebrations in Italy, Paris and London’s Trafalgar Square have been called off, among other destinations.
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New year live updates: Celebrations banned in Delhi, Karnataka, UK and Paris among other places owing to Covid-19 threat; Countries in the middle of a surge in coronavirus cases due to Omicron; Follow this space for latest updates:
Youngsters buy greeting cards on the occasion of New Year, in Pune on Thursday. (Express Photo by Ashish Kale)
New Year celebration curbs imposed by states to control spread of Covid-19
From curfews to restrictions on movements, state governments have become cautious with New Year’s Eve celebrations around the corner. As Covid-19 cases rise across the country, states have imposed several measures in view of the fast-spreading Omicron variant. This comes on a day when 16,764 fresh cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the country. The country also witnessed its sharpest single-day spike in new cases of the Omicron variant, with 309 such cases being added to the overall caseload.
Of the 1,270 patients infected with the Omicron variant in the country, 374 have either recuperated or migrated, according to the health ministry’s data updated at 8 am. A breakdown of the country’s Omicron tally shows that Maharashtra has reported the highest number of Omicron cases (450), followed by Delhi (320), Kerala (109) and Gujarat (97).
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Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as New Year’s Eve celebrations begin in Sydney, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. (AP/PTI Photo)While Indian tourists celebrate New Year’s with beach party in Goa, Bengaluru witnessed no New Year celebrations on MG Road, Brigade Road over Omicron threat. Around the world, South Africans cheered its government’s decision to lift the midnight curfew in place after nearly two years of Covid-19 restrictions, a relief for businesses and citizens just ahead of New Year celebrations. On Thursday, South Africa became the first country to say that it believed it had passed the peak of a wave of coronavirus infections caused by the highly contagious Omicron variant. Australia and New Zealand lit up with fireworks in Sydney and Aukland respectively as they ringed in the New Year 2022. With the Omicron virus surging across India and the world, various restrictions have forced people to stay back at home this New Year’s Eve. As we bid farewell to the old year on Friday, the night might be much quieter around the country with curbs kicking in across all states. As the New Year rings in, most countries are either on the verge of or in the middle of a new wave of coronavirus infections, courtesy the Omicron variant of the virus. While both the US and UK have been reporting record number of cases each day, experts in India believe that the country is on the verge of a third wave. Restrictions have been clamped across India on New Year celebrations. While festivities have been completely banned in states like Delhi and Karnataka, others have brought in strict restrictions, such as curfews, to control the spread of the virus. Internationally, too, celebrations in Italy, Paris and London’s Trafalgar Square have been called off, among other destinations. Live BlogNew year live updates: Celebrations banned in Delhi, Karnataka, UK and Paris among other places owing to Covid-19 threat; Countries in the middle of a surge in coronavirus cases due to Omicron; Follow this space for latest updates: Youngsters buy greeting cards on the occasion of New Year, in Pune on Thursday. (Express Photo by Ashish Kale) New Year celebration curbs imposed by states to control spread of Covid-19 From curfews to restrictions on movements, state governments have become cautious with New Year’s Eve celebrations around the corner. As Covid-19 cases rise across the country, states have imposed several measures in view of the fast-spreading Omicron variant. This comes on a day when 16,764 fresh cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the country. The country also witnessed its sharpest single-day spike in new cases of the Omicron variant, with 309 such cases being added to the overall caseload. Of the 1,270 patients infected with the Omicron variant in the country, 374 have either recuperated or migrated, according to the health ministry’s data updated at 8 am. A breakdown of the country’s Omicron tally shows that Maharashtra has reported the highest number of Omicron cases (450), followed by Delhi (320), Kerala (109) and Gujarat (97). © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd