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Australia and New Zealand are among the first countries to usher in 2021, with millions of people around the world celebrating the New Year at home due to COVID-19.
From Paris to New York, many big cities are gearing up for the New Year by implementing strict crowd control measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Sydney celebrated with a fireworks display over the Harbor Bridge, which was only seen live by those living in the area and their guests.
The celebrated annual event normally draws a million people, but this year Australian officials prohibited people from gathering near the bridge to watch due to coronavirus restrictions.
Sydney’s fireworks display was cut to seven minutes this year
The screen was shortened to seven minutes and the city precinct was restricted to those with restaurant and hotel reservations.
New South Wales State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said those who live in the city center could invite up to 10 friends and family to their homes to celebrate. Guests had to apply for permits to enter the area.
Melbourne, Australia’s second most populous city, canceled its fireworks.
City Mayor Sally Capp said: “For the first time in many, many years, we made the big decision, the difficult decision to cancel the fireworks.
“We did that because we know it draws up to 450,000 people to the city for a moment at midnight to enjoy spectacular display and music. We won’t do it this year.
In contrast, the West Coast city of Perth, which has had no community transmission of the virus since April, celebrated the New Year with large crowds in attendance for two fireworks displays.
Warning signs are displayed on security fences before this year’s fireworks display
A man and a woman pose for a photo in front of a 2021 sign next to Sydney Harbor
A reveler holds up a sign that reads “2020BYE” ahead of the celebrations in Sydney Harbor
Some parts of western Russia have also started to ring in the New Year.
President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual message, which was available online and broadcast to each time zone at 11:45 p.m.
In Auckland, New Zealand, residents enjoyed a five-minute fireworks and light show as the clock struck midnight.
The Sky Tower was adorned with colorful animated laser displays
The exhibition in Auckland lasted five minutes.
Crowds were allowed to gather in the city to mark the occasion due to the low number of new coronavirus cases in the nation.
Thousands of people saw the exhibition up close, which began at midnight from the Sky Tower.
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New Zealand sees in the new year
The crowd cheered with excitement at 11:45 pm when a man on the public address system announced, “We only have 15 minutes.”
The Sky Tower has been adorned with colorful animated laser displays of geometric shapes and animals, including a green gecko that appeared to be climbing the 328m tall tower.
In one of the largest gatherings, 30,000 revelers celebrated at a three-day music festival at a winery near Gisborne on the North Island.
The Pacific island of Tonga was the first country to mark the start of 2021 at 10am GMT.
People were allowed to see Auckland fireworks in person due to low coronavirus infection rates
In Wuhan, where the pandemic is believed to have originated, thousands of people are expected to gather starting at 2.50 pm GMT at various popular venues in the city center for the countdown to 2021.
Some said they were being cautious, but weren’t particularly concerned.
“Safety is the priority,” said Wang Xuemei, 23, a teacher, from Wuhan. “It is okay because these measures are not applied very strictly,” added her friend and colleague Wang Anyu. “You can still go out.”
In Tokyo, not only were night trains canceled on New Year’s Eve, but several of the city’s big countdown parties, concerts, and other seasonal gatherings were also canceled, including the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing party.
A bell will ring at Sensoji Temple at 3pm GMT.
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Remember this? How the world marked the pre-COVID New Year
Hong Kong officials canceled the fireworks over Victoria Harbor, as well as the iconic annual Lunar New Year parade in February.
This makes 2021 the second year in a row that the city will miss out on annual celebrations, which are often lavish.
Last year’s countdown fireworks and the 2020 Lunar New Year parade were held in much diminished form due to the threat of anti-government protests.
France has mobilized 100,000 policemen and gendarmes to break up the New Year’s Eve parties and enforce the curfew from 8:00 p.m.
Half of the Paris metro lines will also be closed at night to discourage gatherings.
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2020: A year to forget?
The avatar of composer and performer Jean-Michel Jarre will perform a set from inside a virtual Notre Dame cathedral while he performs it himself live in a nearby studio in the city.
One of the most iconic New Year’s Eve events is the Times Square Ball Drop in New York.
The ball will continue to fall this year, but the party, which typically sees hundreds of thousands crammed into the famous LED-lit intersection, will be for an “extremely limited” group of socially distanced in-person “honorees.”
Everyone else will have to tune in virtually or watch television.
There will be a performance by singer Gloria Gaynor, who will end the year with a performance of I Will Survive.
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