Happy New Year 2021
The world is preparing for an unprecedented celebration of New Year’s Eve, previously marked with grand and spectacular public events.
This year many countries have put restrictions to avoid mass gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected over 80 million people worldwide and killed around 1.8 million.
Celebrations are underway as the world welcomes 2021. While this year’s festivities will look a little different than in years past, many people are glad to leave 2020 behind.
The eagerly awaited first seconds of 2021 fell on the Pacific nations of Kiribati and Samoa from 1000 GMT, followed next by New Zealand at 11:00 GMT.
An hour later with large crowds gathered in Auckland to watch a fireworks display. New Zealand has, of course, declared itself a COVID free nation, one of the few who has allowed public gatherings for New Years.
My son has just facetimed me to wish me happy new year from a nightclub in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Club was rammed and not a mask in sight.
We fucked up big time here didn't we.— Hodgie🇵🇸✊❤️✊ (@neilhdg) December 31, 2020
New Zealand is definitely ahead of us … people gathering safely to ring in the new year because they haven't allowed the pandemic to rage out of control there. https://t.co/E9dwejgmg8
— Kate Brannen (@K8brannen) December 31, 2020
Australia Welcomes 2021 with muted celebrations
In Australia’s largest city, Sydney, fireworks lit up the glittering harbour with a dazzling display at 1300 GMT, but few spectators watched in person. Non the less, people have wished each other Happy New Year 2021 on social media.
Plans to allow crowds were scrapped amid a cluster of around 150 new infections that have seen travel to and from Sydney severely restricted.
🇦🇺 | 2021: Sydney, Australia: pic.twitter.com/saSw6fQ6Ei
— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) December 31, 2020
Happy New Year 2021 to all our friends around the world from all of us here in ~New Zealand & Australia and here’s to 2021 that gives real hope and opportunity to all.
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