Many large parties and fireworks displays cancelled or scaled down due to a rise in coronavirus infections across the world.
By Mersiha GadzoPublished On 31 Dec 202131 Dec 2021|Updated: 11 hours ago
The year 2022 has arrived in some countries, with people on the South Pacific islands of Samoa and Kiribati the first to start the new year at 10:00 GMT on Friday, and New Zealand following an hour later.
In Australia, Sydney kicked off the new year with six tonnes of colourful fireworks against the imposing backdrop of the city’s landmark Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
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In New York’s Times Square, throngs stretched for blocks to soak in the scaled-back celebration. Confetti lit up by electronic billboards swirled in a light wind on a mild winter night in New York City
It will take 26 hours, up to 12:00 GMT on Saturday, for the entire globe to ring in the New Year.
Many large parties and fireworks displays have been cancelled or scaled down, however, due to a rise in coronavirus infections across the world.
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Fireworks light up Rio de Janeiro for New Year
Colourful fireworks lit up the night sky in Rio de Janeiro as the city ushered in the New Year.
People crowded along the beach to watch the fifteen minute display as they celebrated the start of 2022.
The yearly celebration on Copacabana beach has in the past gathered more than one million locals and tourists.
New Year’s Eve bash returns to New York’s Times Square to usher in 2022
New York City readied to embrace the new year – and bid good riddance to another pandemic-marred 12 months – as it revived its annual New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, after forgoing a public event last year.
In Times Square, throngs stretched for blocks to soak in the scaled-back celebration, with many traveling from afar to take part. Confetti lit up by electronic billboards swirled in a light wind on a mild winter night in New York City.
The annual ball drop takes place as the clock ticks into midnight and ushers in the new year, an occasion usually commemorated with Champagne, clinking pints, joyous embraces and hopes for better times ahead.
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.
Filipinos welcome 2022 with new limits on mobility over Omicron threat
The Philippines will impose tighter curbs in the capital region for the next two weeks, the acting presidential spokesperson said on the eve of 2022, to try to limit infections by the Omicron coronavirus variant that is spreading globally.
The health ministry on Friday recorded 2,961 new coronavirus infections, a two-month high, and reported a positivity rate of 10.3 percent.
“In the coming days, we might see an increase in active cases,” acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a televised announcement.
The region, including the capital Manila, is an urban sprawl of 16 cities home to more than 13 million people. It will be placed under the third of a five-scale alert system from January 3 to 15, Nograles said.
