Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration will be scaled back

2 years ago 378

(CNN) — Next week’s New Year’s Eve solemnisation successful Times Square volition beryllium “scaled back,” with less revelers and everyone required to deterioration a mask, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s bureau said Thursday.

The solemnisation successful Times Square typically holds astir 58,000 radical successful viewing areas, but this twelvemonth it volition beryllium constricted to 15,000 radical and visitors volition not beryllium allowed introduction into the country until 3 p.m., the bureau said successful a quality release.

Additionally, everyone volition beryllium required to deterioration a disguise and amusement photograph recognition astatine the afloat outdoor event, de Blasio’s bureau said.

As antecedently announced, each visitors to the Times Square solemnisation are required to amusement impervious of vaccination if they are older than 5. Any unvaccinated children younger than 5 indispensable beryllium accompanied by a vaccinated big to attend, the mayor’s bureau said.

Earlier this week, de Blasio said metropolis officials were reviewing plans for the lawsuit successful airy of a COVID-19 lawsuit surge and the dispersed of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus. On Tuesday, helium said helium was hopeful that the lawsuit could spell connected arsenic planned.

The changes came a mates of days later. The further measures “will support the afloat vaccinated assemblage harmless and steadfast arsenic we ringing successful the New Year,” de Blasio said successful Thursday’s quality release.

“This year’s vacation play whitethorn not beryllium the 1 we had hoped for, but we tin inactive person a blessed vacation season,” metropolis Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi said successful the quality release. “All New Yorkers should get vaccinated and boosted arsenic soon arsenic possible. Wear a prime look disguise and enactment location if you’re feeling sick, nary substance however mild your symptoms.”

Mayor-elect Eric Adams, who takes bureau Jan. 1, said de Blasio “made the close determination to instrumentality precautionary measures arsenic we larn to unrecorded with COVID and combat the Omicron variant.”

“New Yorkers and visitors alike tin present bask Times Square and the remainder of our metropolis arsenic we ringing successful 2022,” Adams said successful the quality release.

In November, de Blasio announced the instrumentality of a “big, strong, afloat strength” in-person New Year’s Eve solemnisation successful Times Square this twelvemonth pursuing its virtual event last twelvemonth owed to pandemic concerns.

The accustomed countdown and famous shot drop happened past year, but no crowds were allowed connected the streets. Other cities besides held scaled-back celebrations.