The celebrations for the New Year 2022 have begun around the world, despite the celebrations having been canceled or resized in many cities due to the new increase in Covid-19 infections.
In the southern seas, 2022 has already begun: the inhabitants of the islands of Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati were the first in the world to welcome the new year. Unlike last year, when public fireworks were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, fireworks in the sky were cleared again in Samoa. According to the tourism board, the island state had brought in five pyrotechnic experts from New Zealand specifically to install the fireworks.
And New Zealand has already welcomed the new year, with projections of lights in iconic places in Auckland such as Sky Tower and Harbor Bridge. In fact, the traditional fireworks display did not take place. In New Zealand there has been no community diffusion of the Omicron variant, but the authorities still wanted to avoid the rallies. Countries in Asia and the Pacific region are the first to celebrate the New Year.
And 2022 has also arrived in Australia (at 14 Italian hours ed) and in Sydney the fireworks display has been confirmed, and after months of very hard lockdown public celebrations are once again allowed, a decision taken thanks to a large increase in the number of vaccinated people and to the conviction of the minor gravity of Omicron.
For a few months it seemed that New Year 2022 could be celebrated in an almost normal way, with toasts in the square and collective celebrations. To cancel the illusion, however, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has arrived, which has caused the infection rates of Covid-19 to skyrocket and forced to rethink the programs, at least in some parts of the world. Various metropolises, for the second consecutive year, have thus completely canceled the celebrations, while others have reduced them. Yesterday, new alarms and calls for caution arrived from the highest health authorities. The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he feared a “tsunami of cases” due to Omicron and Delta, citing “theThe New Year in the various countries of the world
-In Germany: New Year under the banner of restrictions, which came into force on December 28th: ​​the night of December 31st will also apply. The general rule is that there will be no private gatherings of more than ten people (under 14 excluded from the count) for vaccinated, while for the unvaccinated the limit is drastically lowered to two people. It is forbidden to dance, both in discos and in other places and the opening of some clubs is authorized only on the basis of strict measures, for example in Berlin. The sale of fireworks is strictly forbidden in a country where the arrival of the new year was usually accompanied by fireworks and even “spontaneous” pitched battles in the streets. The ban by the German authorities on the sale of fires artifice did not dissuade fellow citizens who turned to neighboring Poland to stock up in view of the celebrations for New Year’s Eve. In some Länder, such as Baden-Wurttemberg, a night curfew has been imposed – from 10.30pm to 5.00am – although this evening traffic will be allowed until 1am. In addition, a mandatory quarantine has been introduced for unvaccinated travelers from France and Denmark, which are added to the list of countries also Norway, Lebanon and Andorra.
-In Britain: the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced that there will be no celebrations in Trafalgar Square this year due to the growth of Omicron cases in the capital; but Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was satisfied with the progress of the pandemic, saying that things are much better than a year ago.
-In Ireland: bars, pubs and restaurants are obliged to close at 8 pm, even on this New Year’s Eve. A measure that will remain in effect until the end of January.
-In Belgium: The government canceled, after an appeal accepted by the Council of State, the decision to close cinemas and theaters while cafes and restaurants must close at 11pm; throughout the New Year period, fireworks are prohibited in Brussels.
-In Denmark and Luxembourg: in both countries a curfew has come into effect for one month at 11 pm. Exits to the cinema, theater and concerts are no longer authorized. Museums and amusement parks have also been closed.
-In Finland: restaurants close at 6pm with limited seating capacity and clubs at 10pm. European travelers from the Schengen area must present a negative test to enter the country.
-In France: As requested by the government, the municipality of Paris has canceled concerts and shows with fireworks planned for New Year’s Eve, especially the traditionally planned events on the Champs Elysees. No public gathering but there will be no curfew, as initially feared. In bars and clubs it is forbidden to consume standing up. Throughout France, mayors have been asked to cancel concerts and fireworks and to ban the consumption of alcohol on the street. It will be forbidden to dance in restaurants, bars and other places. In public places the number of participants in outdoor events is limited to 5,000 and 2,000 in indoor spaces, with the obligation to wear a mask in recreational and cultural contexts. The obligation of urgent reasons for travel to and from the UK has been re-established. From January 1st,
-In Brazil: unlike what happens in other Brazilian cities in Rio de Janeiro it was decided to keep the traditional celebrations on Copacabana beach, where despite the limitations a large number of people are expected (usually a few million), in one of the most affected countries in the world in absolute terms (second only to the USA).
-In Canada: in Quebec, the authorities have asked to limit the number of guests to the New Year’s Eve dinner to ten. Shops, bars, restaurants and theaters as well as gyms have to reduce reception capacity by 50%.
