Despite the Covid hitting New York once more, the ‘city that never sleeps’ celebrated 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.
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 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 had tested positive for the coronavirus, for nearly 340,000 tests carried out. A new record for this state of 20 million inhabitants. Nearly 8,000 patients are hospitalized there.
American tradition
Revelers began to congregate by 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 lit day and night with theater signs, music halls, neon lights and giant screens and has given New York its reputation as a ‘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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A Tale of Two New Year’s: How New York City Bounced Back from COVID-19
As I reflect on the recent news of New York City’s New Year’s celebration, I am struck by the city’s resilience and determination to carry on with its traditions despite the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to recent data, the pandemic has indeed hit New York City once more, but that didn’t stop the iconic Times Square celebration from taking place.
The contrast between the 2020 and 2024 celebrations is stark. On December 31, 2020, the usually vibrant and crowded Times Square was almost empty, with only a handful of people braving the pandemic to witness the iconic ball drop. It was a somber reminder of the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our global community. Fast forward to this year, and it’s heartening to see that the city has made significant progress in its fight against the pandemic.
But how is New York City really doing in terms of COVID-19 cases and trends? A look at the latest data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene [[1]] reveals that the city has been tracking key metrics on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. While the data is subject to change, it appears that the city has seen a significant decrease in cases and hospitalizations over the past few months.
Another valuable resource is the Coronavirus in New York City tracker york-ny/”>[[3]] provides real-time data on COVID-19 risk levels in New York City. This tracker is an excellent resource for those looking for up-to-date information on COVID-19 trends in the city.
while New York City’s New Year’s celebration may have looked different from previous years, it’s clear that the city has made significant progress in its fight against COVID-19. The latest data and trackers provide a glimmer of hope that the city is on the road to recovery, and the iconic Times Square celebration is a testament to the city’s determination to thrive despite adversity.
References:
[1] NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. (n.d.). COVID-19 Data.
york-ny/”>[3] CovidActNow. (n.d.). New York (NY).
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