Revellers throng to New Year’s parties after COVID hiatus
Published:Saturday | December 31, 2022 | 10:43 AM
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — With countdowns and fireworks, revellers in major city centres across the Asia-Pacific region ushered in the first new year without COVID-19 restrictions since the pandemic began in 2020.
While COVID-19 continues to cause death and dismay, particularly in China, which is battling a nationwide surge in infections after suddenly easing anti-epidemic measures, countries had largely lifted quarantine requirements, restrictions for visitors and relentless testing that had limited travel and places people can go to.
Celebrations are being held at the Great Wall in Beijing, while in Shanghai authorities said traffic will be stopped along the waterfront Bund to allow pedestrians to gather on New Year's Eve. Shanghai Disneyland will also hold a special fireworks show to welcome 2023.
On the last day of the year marked by the brutal war in Ukraine, many in the country returned to capital Kyiv to spend New Year's Eve with their loved ones.
As Russia attacks continue to target power supplies leaving millions without electricity, no big celebrations are expected and a curfew will be in place as the clock rings in the new year.
But for most Ukrainians being together with their families is already a luxury.
More than 1 million crowded along Sydney's waterfront for a multimillion-dollar celebration based around the themes of diversity and inclusion.
New South Wales police issued an advisory before 7 p.m. stating that only people with tickets to attend the celebrations should head into the city because all vantage points were full.
More than 7,000 fireworks were launched from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and a further 2,000 from the nearby Opera House.
It was the “party Sydney deserves,” the city's producer of major events and festivals Stephen Gilby told The Sydney Morning Herald.
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