Despite the COVID hitting New York once more, the “city that never sleeps” is preparing to celebrate the New Year on the iconic Times Square in the heart of Manhattan, with its famous descent of the ball, its countdown and its release of confetti.
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On December 31, 2020, following terrible months of the coronavirus epidemic, the colorful and musical event, renowned around the world, was held in an almost empty square.
This year, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio – succeeded by Eric Adams on January 1 – had promised that the party would take place but with only 15,000 people in Times Square, instead of 60,000, all masked and vaccinated.
Like a couple of African-Americans who came especially from Memphis (Tennessee): “To see the release of the ball is our dream and we were vaccinated for that”, admits to AFPTV Chroni Spokes.
“At first glance, we did not want to be vaccinated but when we read the rules of the health authorities, we did it just to come here,” admits the young woman.
Faced with the surge in Omicron variant contaminations in recent weeks and the fear of reliving the nightmare of 2020 when New York was the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic, the city and state of New York are betting everything on vaccination and testing.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul reported on Friday that over the past 24 hours more than 76,500 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, with nearly 340,000 tests performed, a new state record of 20 million. inhabitants.
Nearly 8,000 patients are hospitalized there.
Revelers began to congregate mid-followingnoon in this iconic Times Square where the New Year’s Eve has been celebrated since the turn of the 20th century. Thousands of people each year wait for the countdown just before midnight and the release of the ball and confetti that marks the start of the new year.
Times Square, in midtown Manhattan, at the intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street, is illuminated day and night by theater signs, music halls, neon lights and giant screens and has given New York its reputation as “the city that never sleeps ”. But the cultural and economic capital of the United States has not regained its legendary effervescence before the health crisis.
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Washington Post
As a famous blog news writer, I have analyzed the provided news article about New York City’s preparation to celebrate the New Year in Times Square despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The article highlights how the “city that never sleeps” is determined to celebrate the New Year in style, with its famous descent of the ball, countdown, and release of confetti in Times Square. This event is renowned around the world and attracts millions of viewers [[1]].
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration was significantly scaled back in 2020, with an almost empty square on December 31, 2020 [[2]]. This year, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio had promised that the party would take place but with only 15,000 people in Times Square, instead of the usual 60,000, all masked and vaccinated.
The article also mentions that people from all over the world are eager to attend this event, including a couple of African-Americans who came from Memphis, Tennessee. They expressed their excitement about attending the event and witnessing the release of confetti in person.
The Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration has a rich history, dating back to 1904 [[1]]. The iconic ball drop is a significant part of the celebration, and it has been a tradition for over a century.
In recent years, the celebration has become a significant source of tourism revenue for New York City. The event attracts millions of viewers worldwide, and it is considered a must-see spectacle.
This year’s celebration is significant, given the challenging times the city has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to scale back the celebration is a cautious approach to ensure public safety, while still allowing people to come together and celebrate the start of a new year.
the article highlights the resilience of New York City and its determination to celebrate the New Year in style, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration is an iconic event that attracts people from all over the world, and it will continue to be a significant part of the city’s cultural landscape.
References:
[[1]]https://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-new-years-eve/nye-history-times-square-ball
[[2]]https://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-new-years-eve
[[3]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1yOLCBHQ_w
