New Years During a Pandemic

As 2020 came to an end, the world welcomed 2021 in with social distancing guidelines. New year festivities were anything but normal as countries all over the world shut down some of their most anticipated annual traditions. 

Many people across the world were left devastated by these actions. Americans were left watching the Times Square ball drop online rather than in the crowded New York streets. Australians were also left at home as many of their firework locations were closed or cancelled all together. A long-lasting tradition in South Korea was broken when their government closed off all the beaches in Gangneung and people were forced to watch the first sunrise of 2021 virtually. 

Others didn’t let the disease stop them and risked their lives to participate in large group gatherings. In a small French town, a rave attracted around 2,500 party-goers and violated the country’s 8 PM curfew. Many participants were sent penalty notices and police officers set up COVID-19 testing sites near the party’s location in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading. In China, the people crowded the streets of Wuhan and proceeded with their traditional countdown. The only difference this year was the large number of police officers that patrolled the site to control the size of the crowd and enforce mask-wearing guidelines. Despite New York’s attempt to decrease its infection rates by closing the ball drop to the public, three parties were caught for accommodating hundreds of people. The people who organized these parties were even fined for violating the city’s health restrictions. While COVID-19 took control of everyone’s 2020 and people celebrated the end of the year in unconventional ways, many still have faith in a better 2021.