This year, the highly contagious Omicron form of the corona virus has dampened the enthusiasm of New Year’s Eve celebrations. However, before the cases of this form came to the fore, many people seemed happy about the passing of the second year affected by the epidemic.
But so far, the good news is that infection with Omicron has not resulted in overcrowding of hospitals and deaths of infected people, especially those who have been vaccinated, as in the previous wave of the pandemic. This gives a glimmer of hope for 2022.
In Japan, author Naoki Matsuzawa said he would spend the next few days cooking and delivering food to the elderly as some stores would close. He said that vaccination has reduced people’s anxiety about the pandemic, despite its redesign.
Matsuzawa, like many others, expects the situation to improve in 2022. Many people in Japan plan to travel to spend time with their families. People flocked to temples and monasteries on New Year’s Eve, most of them wearing masks.
Australia is maintaining plans for its celebrations despite an explosive rise in virus infection cases. Fireworks will be seen from Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House to welcome the New Year.
Hours before the ceremony began, Australian health officials reported 32,000 new cases of infection.
At the same time, Omicron has not yet spread at the community level in neighboring New Zealand. The country’s authorities have taken precautionary measures by canceling several fireworks shows.
On the other hand, the celebrations celebrated on New Year’s Eve in the South Korean capital Seoul have been canceled for the second year in a row.
Millions of people in India are planning to welcome the New Year at home amid night curfew and other restrictions in many places.
Authorities have imposed restrictions to keep people away from restaurants, hotels, beaches, bars amid increasing cases of Omicron. However, no night curfew has been imposed in Goa and Hyderabad.
In Indonesia too, the government has canceled New Year’s Eve celebrations. However, around 3,000 people in Hong Kong are expected to attend New Year’s Eve celebrations attended by local celebrities.
In China, the Shanghai government has canceled events including the annual light show on the Huangpu River. At the same time, there are no plans for public celebrations in Beijing.
However, authorities in Thailand have allowed partying and fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
AP
Subhash Naresh
Naresh
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