The bougainvillea falls at midnight during virtual New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York City’s Times Square on January 1, 2021. The annual New Year’s Eve ball drop event, which typically attracts more than 1 million people , has been closed to the public due to the risk of COVID-19.
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Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images
The bougainvillea falls at midnight during virtual New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York City’s Times Square on January 1, 2021. The annual New Year’s Eve ball drop event, which typically attracts more than 1 million people , has been closed to the public due to the risk of COVID-19.
Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images
New York City’s Times Square resound in 2021 with a virtual ball-drop celebration, as coronavirus cases rise across the US
Now, the party is back up and running thanks to a COVID-19 vaccine. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday that Times Square will be open for celebrations on New Year’s Eve this year – but only to those who are fully vaccinated.
“We’re proud to announce a great celebration in Times Square, the drop ball, everything, back to full power, the way we love it,” he said. “Hundreds of thousands of people are there to celebrate, we can finally get together again. It’s going to be amazing, it’s going to be a joy for the city.”
He certainly seemed delighted to deliver the news:
De Blasio emphasized that the city is working with health officials to make the event safe. Attendees must present proof of vaccinations and valid photo identification.
Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Coalition, virtually appeared at the press conference to expand on the mayor’s comment. He noted that Times Square is attracting more visitors, with pedestrian traffic increasing by more than 50% in the past few months.
Harris said more than 270,000 people visited Times Square last Saturday, and Broadway has welcomed more than a million returning visitors. He says the success is largely due to people being vaccinated and feeling confident about venturing out again.
Of course, you don’t have to be in Manhattan to celebrate 2022. The New Year’s Eve festival will also be broadcast to TV and internet audiences, the union said, including a “multimedia experience” virtual”. NSeAdvertise more about the plan here.
