D.he year 2022 has already begun in many countries and especially in large parts of Asia. In Germany 2021 said goodbye with unusually mild temperatures, in Oy-Mittelberg in Oberallgäu, a good 1000 meters high, but also in Dresden more than 16 degrees were measured. In Berlin, with more than 13 degrees, it was the warmest New Year’s Eve since weather records began in the 19th century. Meteorologists also expected double-digit temperatures in large parts of Germany on New Year’s Eve.
Mainly out of fear of the rapid spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, there are nationwide contact restrictions for private meetings. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) linked a picture in the evening in which he secretly looks through the window: “Don’t overdo it. I see you. ”Lauterbach tweeted that the edited photo was not entirely wrong. He “appeal to everyone one last time to be careful”. This should read: “Testing, very small groups, face mask where necessary and watching TV alone if there are symptoms.”
Once again this time there was a general ban on the sale of fireworks in the last days of the year. The main aim is to relieve the hospitals of additional patients. In some cities, gunfire is completely forbidden in certain areas. The police announced increased controls.
Firecracker prohibition zones in Berlin also beyond the pandemic
From the point of view of Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD), firecracking zones contribute to the protection of emergency services. “We also have to talk about pacifying certain areas in the city beyond the corona pandemic by not allowing gunfire there,” said the politician on Friday. Together with Berlin’s new Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD), Giffey visited firefighters and police officers on New Year’s Eve before their deployment.
The ban on the sale of fireworks and firework prohibition zones had an effect last year, according to Berlin’s head of government. Compared to earlier New Year’s Eve, when there were “war-like conditions” in some places, a third fewer missions were recorded. Giffey expected it to remain quieter in 2021/22. According to Interior Senator Spranger, in addition to around 900 patrol officers, 1,600 additional officers are on duty in Berlin.
The spokesman for the Berlin police expected that illegally imported fireworks from Poland, for example, would go off on the streets of the capital. The Bavarian head of the German Police Union, Jürgen Köhnlein, told Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR24) that “a hot weekend” is expected. Above all, the often unannounced protests by opponents of the Corona policy were a challenge.
Germany’s biggest New Year’s Eve party in Berlin is canceled again this time. The ZDF broadcasts a show from the Brandenburg Gate, for example with Marianne Rosenberg and Dieter Hallervorden.
A twelve-year-old boy died in a New Year’s Eve bang in the Netherlands. Another boy suffered serious injuries in the Haaksbergen community not far from Enschede. According to the information, the children had watched a man detonate magnesium powder with a device. The man was arrested.
Sydney celebrates fireworks with tens of thousands
With six tons of colorful fireworks in front of the imposing backdrop of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House, Sydney has started the year 2022. Unlike last year, this time, despite the sharp rise in corona numbers in the region, tens of thousands of viewers were again allowed to follow the spectacle live. However, all participants had to buy a ticket for one of around 30 viewpoints. “Hopefully 2022 will be a better year for everyone,” said 31-year-old Oscar Ramirez. “Everyone in the world needs a big change.”
Before the pandemic, the imposing spectacle had attracted more than a million people each year. However, the state of New South Wales, in which Sydney is located, is currently the region of the country most severely affected by Corona due to the spread of the Omicron variant: On Friday, the authorities there reported more than 21,000 new infections – more than ever before, but almost 9,000 more than on Thursday and 15,000 more than on Wednesday.
The organizers had advised that citizens without a reservation or vaccination should not come to the city center if possible. The world-famous fireworks were broadcast live on the Internet and on the TV broadcaster ABC. Last year, the center of Sydney was completely closed to spectators.
Australia had long pursued a zero covid strategy and closed its national borders to visitors. Nevertheless, the number of infections has been increasing for months. Because of the spread of the Omikron variant, some parts of the country are currently reporting new record values.
Before Australia, the year 2022 had already started at 11:00 a.m.CET on the South Sea islands of Samoa and Kiribati. New Zealand followed an hour later. Unlike last year, when public fireworks were canceled due to the corona pandemic, firecrackers were again allowed to be shot in the sky in Samoa. According to the tourism authority, the island nation had five pyrotechnics experts flown in from New Zealand to install the fireworks.
New Year’s Eve in Moscow, New York and Wuhan
In China, several cities canceled fireworks and major festivities due to corona, including Beijing and Wuhan, the city where the corona virus first broke out in late 2019. New Year’s Eve is not in itself a particularly important holiday for the Chinese. According to their traditional lunar calendar, this time the new year starts at the beginning of February. Only then will there be a big wave of travel. However, significant travel restrictions are expected in 2022.
The world welcomes the New Year again under Corona conditions
The New Year’s Eve celebrations around the globe are again very different this time due to the corona pandemic. Many big parties and fireworks have been canceled, for example in London and Paris.
Source: WELT / Lore Schulze-Velmede
In Thailand – one of the few long-distance destinations where numerous tourists are currently staying – many restaurants were exceptionally allowed to open until 1.00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and until then also serve alcohol. In the capital Bangkok, tens of thousands of locals and tourists welcomed the New Year on the famous backpacker mile Khaosan Road. The entire street, which until a few weeks ago was orphaned due to the pandemic, was like a single rave party with loud music in every bar Pre-pandemic times. The corona numbers in Thailand are still low despite the Omikron variant and are around 3,000 new infections every day across the country.
In Dubai, another spectacular fireworks display was planned for the tallest building in the world, the 828 meter high Burj Khalifa. Big fireworks were also planned on Red Square in Russia’s capital. In New York, the New Year’s Eve party in Times Square should take place again with spectators – but only vaccinated.
Millions of people in Moscow celebrated the New Year with fireworks in several places at sub-zero temperatures. Thousands gathered in Red Square alone, where the Kremlin clock struck twelve times to ring in the year 2022. The Russian capital traditionally organizes fireworks in several places, best seen from the skyscraper district of Moskva City or from the Sparrow Hills. There are no major restrictions on the New Year celebrations due to the corona pandemic.
On December 31, between 11 a.m. CET and 1 p.m. CET on January 1, it will take a total of 26 hours for the entire globe to slide into the New Year.
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