New Year's Eve celebrations around the world have been called off as the coronavirus pandemic casts gloom over festivities for a second year.
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Global coronavirus infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, with an average of just over one million cases detected a day worldwide between Dec. 24 and 30, some 100,000 up on the previous peak posted on Wednesday, according to Reuters data.
In Israel, police on Friday announced they had finalized preparations for New Year's Eve, with officers ordered to enforce green pass restrictions in businesses put in place to keep the Omicron variant in check. The Israel Police noted both covert and overt operational activity in the field of business licensing had also been ramped up in recent days.
Beginning Friday night and continuing throughout the weekend, thousands of police officers and volunteers are set to be dispatched at major traffic arteries, entertainment venues, and other places expected to see mass crowding across the country. Checkpoints will be set up, and officers will act to remove those who pose a threat to others from the road.
Police will act to ensure revelers remain safe, enforcing law and order. Special emphasis will be given to life-threatening traffic violations, road rage incidents, and drunk driving.
In a statement, the Israel Police said New Year's Eve was typically characterized by heavy traffic on the roads as revelers make their way to and from events.
"The combination of drinking alcohol and driving constitutes a genuine threat to people's lives and is a significant cause of fatal traffic accidents. The Israel Police will act to enforce the law against such drivers with the aim of preventing the next accident and so that everyone can return home safely," according to the statement.
As a reminder, mask-wearing is mandatory in all closed and non-residential places and in outdoor gatherings of 50 or more individuals.
Businesses must adhere to current green pass restrictions.
Those caught violating quarantine will be fined and may result in the opening of a criminal investigation.
Gloomy New Year's expected for many around the world
With numerous countries registering all-time highs, authorities in many places have called off celebrations to welcome in 2022, fearful that the Omicron variant will take advantage of gatherings to spread even faster.
Australia, however, was determined to ring in 2022 with a bang despite surges in infections to record levels in some places.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told people to "enjoy the evening," while Dominic Perrottet, premier of New South Wales state, urged everyone to "head out and enjoy New Year's" even as daily infections in the state nearly doubled to a record 21,151.
Perrottet said he took heart from higher levels of vaccination and the fact that hospitals were coping with the Omicron wave.
"Our position remains incredibly strong," he told reporters.
Social distancing rules are in place and masks are required indoors in Sydney but thousands of people are expected to flock to its harbourside to watch New Year fireworks, with queues forming at many vantage points from early in the morning.
Secretive North Korea also appeared to be preparing to buck the trend and celebrate the New Year with midnight fireworks at Kim Il Sung Square in its capital, Pyongyang.
Commercial satellite imagery showed preparations were underway with a stage being installed in the square, according to NK News, a Seoul-based website that monitors North Korea.
The Rodong Sinmun state-run newspaper ran photographs of flower shops in Pyongyang crowded with mask-wearing customers buying blooms for the celebrations.
North Korea sealed its borders after the pandemic began and has not reported a single case of COVID-19.
Over the border in South Korea, the mood was not so festive.
A traditional midnight bell-ringing ceremony has been canceled for the second year and authorities announced an extension of stricter distancing rules for two weeks to tackle a persistent surge in Infections.
China, where the coronavirus first emerged in late 2019, was on high alert against the virus, with the city of Xian under lockdown and New Year events in other cities canceled and authorities urging restraint.
Authorities in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, will close 11 roads that usually draw big crowds for New Year's Eve, police said, while Malaysia has banned large gatherings nationwide and canceled a fireworks display at the Petronas Twin Towers in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took to his official YouTube channel to urge people to wear masks at parties and limit the number of people attending, while Tokyo's famous Shibuya entertainment district has banned year-end parties.
New Zealand, famous for its success in keeping the virus at bay, will see some celebrations. Its biggest city, Auckland, eased restrictions this week to let people enjoy some song and dance.
Taiwan, another coronavirus mitigation success, will hold a pop concert in front of city hall in the capital, Taipei, and with midnight fireworks lighting up Taipei 101, which was briefly the world's tallest building. Those attending the concert will have to wear masks, register their names, and will only be allowed to drink water.
Indian authorities began to impose stringent rules on Thursday to prevent large gatherings with night curfews in all major cities and restaurants in effect to limit customers.
Despite the curbs, domestic tourists have been flocking to the famous beaches, bars, and nightclubs of Goa on the country's western coast to ring in the New Year.
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