New York City has announced Times Square will not be open to the public as other cities abandon in-person gatherings
As the crystal-encrusted New Years Ball drops in Times Square at midnight on December 31, its descent will depart from tradition: this sparkling 12-foot sphere will be greeted by empty streets due to Covid-19, and not hundreds of thousands of revelers
New York City officials have announced Times Square will not be open to the public on New Years Eve The party and live performances will continue, albeit virtually: those who wish to attend can stream in online or watch TV
This dramatic change – New Year’s Eve gatherings have been held at the so-called Crossroads of the World since 1904 – is not unique to Manhattan
US cities are changing the way they sound in 2021 as Covid-19 cases and deaths rise nationwide The most recent data from Johns Hopkins University reports 19,448,626 cases in the United States and 336,947 death
Canceling in-person events could be key to preventing illness, as millions of people have recently ignored warnings against vacation travel and social gatherings Many mass gatherings could make matters worse
“The safest way to celebrate the New Year is to celebrate at home with the people who live with you or virtually with your friends and family. Staying at home is the best way to protect yourself and the others, ”the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said
The annual New Years Eve fireworks display on the famous Las Vegas Strip has been canceled, and less of this area will be closed to traffic than in previous years. In the downtown area, people wanting to familiarize themselves with the Fremont Street Experience entertainment area can do that – after paying a $ 25 bracelet for the security fee – but there will be no live music, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Some private event planners have adapted their parties to comply with social distancing rules A New Jersey venue hosts an event featuring a DJ and other performances in a drive-in-streaming format, according to NJcom
At the same time, there are plenty of examples of individuals and businesses trying to sidestep the restrictions. News of the planned New Years Eve parties in Los Angeles sparked a huge backlash as the region devastated by Covid-19 La Scala, an Italian restaurant in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Beverly Hills, announced an indoor dinner for New Years Eve
The fine-dining restaurant recently left invitations in take-out bags that read, “Welcome to 1920s Prohibition.” The missive pointed out that it would house people inside, also saying, “Please keep this discreet, but tell all your friends “
The restaurant later said in an Instagram post it was trying to ‘add lightness’ and accept reservations for alfresco dining Los Angeles residents drew attention to other events in-person and reported secrets from companies that publicly ignore public health rules
“It’s horrible and we are scared,” said Linda Bessin, a Burbank resident, who spoke to city officials about a burger restaurant that has reopened to protest the health warrants. “So that many of us are supportive of the survival of our local businesses and do our best to support restaurants, bring people in without wearing masks or social distancing, and bringing them in from all over Los Angeles County in Burbank, it’s terrifying “
Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a medical epidemiologist at the University of California Los Angeles, previously told The Guardian that attending an event in Los Angeles this week would be very dangerous
“We are in a perfect exposure storm which may amplify the number of cases in New Years celebrations The risks are so much higher, “Kim-Farley said
Elsewhere, others seem poised to make the most of less restrictive rules There are plenty of party listings across the US Some hotel events are even advertising buffets
New Year’s Eve
Ebene News – UA – Virtual ball drop: New Years events canceled in US as Covid cases increase
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/30/new-years-eve-us-coronavirus-events-canceled