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Global celebrations ushered in 2022, yet festivities remained curtailed by the persistent COVID-19 pandemic; the world entered a third year grappling with a surge in infections amidst fragile hopes.
The highly transmissible omicron variant’s emergence in November marked a grim milestone—daily coronavirus cases surpassed one million for the first time, according to an AFP count. Officially, the virus, first detected in China in December 2019, claimed over 5.4 million lives.
Nations like Britain, the United States, and even Australia, previously shielded from the pandemic’s brunt, experienced record-breaking daily case numbers.
In Colombia, President Iván Duque urged compatriots to remain vigilant, complete their vaccination series, and strictly adhere to safety protocols in response to the escalating omicron variant infections.
Colombia administered over 64 million coronavirus vaccine doses, resulting in over 75% of its population receiving at least one shot. However, New Year’s observances were overshadowed by the ongoing health crisis.
Meanwhile, France declared omicron the dominant variant within its borders on Thursday. Nonetheless, President Emmanuel Macron expressed “unwavering optimism” in his end-of-year address, expressing hope that 2022 would mark “the epidemic’s conclusion.”
The Kiribati islands, located in the Pacific, were among the first to welcome the new year, commencing at 10:00 GMT.
