Covid pandemic dampens New Year celebrations around the world

New Year celebrations around the world have been muted as many countries struggle to curb new spikes in coronavirus cases.

Fireworks displays and other public gatherings were cancelled from Sydney to New York.

Festivities were particularly restricted in Europe, amid fears over a more contagious variant of the virus.

France mobilised 100,000 police to break up New Year's Eve parties and enforce a night-time curfew.

More than 1.8 million people have died with the virus across the world since the start of the pandemic a year ago. More than 81 million cases have been reported.

• New Year, but not quite as we know it

• Which countries have been hit hardest?

What is happening in Europe?

In France, the government ordered a visible security presence in urban areas from 20:00 (19:00 GMT) on Thursday, when the curfew began. In Paris half of the metro lines were closed.

Several departments banned the sale of fireworks and limited alcohol sales as part of measures to stop the unrest and torching of cars that often takes place on the final night of the year. Although incidents of violence were reportedly fewer, police were attacked while trying to break up several large illegal raves. In Alsace, a 25-year-old man died when a firework he was holding exploded, local media said.

France has had two lockdowns and bars, restaurants and cultural attractions will remain shut into the new year.

In his New Year's address, President Emmanuel Macron tried to address criticism of the slow pace of vaccination in France, vowing to avoid "unjustifiable delays".

Police are enforcing the curfew in central Paris

In England - where the new coronavirus variant is spreading fast and more than 40 million people in the worst-affected regions are forced to stay at home - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to follow the rules.

"That means not meeting up with friends or family indoors, unless they're in the same household or support bubble, and avoiding large gatherings of any kind," he said on Wednesday.

London's streets were quiet during New Year's Eve after police there warned people to celebrate at home.

Instead of the usual celebrations in front of the London Eye, a giant fireworks and light show was held across various locations in the capital.

• 'We're happy the big night out is cancelled'

Ireland moved to its highest level of restrictions on Thursday, banning all household visits, closing all non-essential retail and limiting travel to 5km (three miles).

Germany is currently under lockdown until 10 January. The government has banned the sale of fireworks and placed tight restrictions on the number of people who can gather in public.

In what is expected to be her last New Year's Eve address as chancellor as she plans to step down in nine months, Angela Merkel took aim at conspiracy theorists.

Making a rare show of emotion, she said she could only imagine how cynical and cruel their dangerous lies must feel to those who had lost loved ones to the virus.

In Italy, a 22:00 curfew was imposed, and bars, restaurants and most shops were closed. Meanwhile, Pope Francis is not leading New Year's Eve and New Year's Day services in Rome after suffering a recurrence of chronic hip pain.

The Netherlands is also under a lockdown, which is set to last until 19 January. Its usual countdown took place behind closed doors at a football stadium in Amsterdam.

Turkey has begun a four-day-long lockdown.

And the US?

Officials placed restrictions on festivities in many states and cities.

In New York, just a handful of people were allowed into Times Square to watch the famous midnight ball drop - mainly frontline workers, first responders and their families.

Stars performed as usual at the televised event.

In New York, only a small number of people were allowed into Times Square to see the celebrations

Fireworks were cancelled in cities including San Francisco and Las Vegas.

• How new variant was identified

• Covid vaccines compared

In a New-Year address posted on Twitter, President Donald Trump hailed the rapid creation of vaccines as a "medical miracle" and paid tribute to the work of Operation Warp Speed, the US programme aimed at producing and delivering vaccines.

But he failed to mention that nearly 350,000 Americans had died with the virus.

How have Asia-Pacific countries been affected?

One of the first nations to ring in the New Year was Australia. The Sydney fireworks display went ahead, but crowds were not allowed to gather on the city's harbour to enjoy it.

"We don't want to create any super-spreading events on New Year's Eve," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Many Sydney residents simply watched the pyrotechnics on TV at home, where gatherings were limited to five guests.

Crowds were out on the streets of Wuhan, where the virus is thought to have originated

In China, the annual New Year light show in the capital Beijing was called off. Celebrations were scaled down in cities across the country. But in Wuhan, where the pandemic is thought to have originated, thousands of people gathered in the city centre to celebrate as balloons were released into the air.

Japan cancelled a traditional New Year event at which Emperor Naruhito and other imperial family members were to greet people.

In India, Delhi and several other cities imposed a night curfew and other restrictions to prevent large New Year gatherings.

However in New Zealand, where a strict lockdown and border closures have all but eliminated Covid, New Year celebrations were held as usual.

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