Pandemic Dampens New Year Revelries Across World

This New Year's Eve is being celebrated like no other, with pandemic restrictions limiting crowds and many people bidding farewell to a year they'd prefer to forget.

Australia will be among the first nations to ring in 2021 because of its proximity to the International Date Line. In past years 1 million people crowded Sydney's harbor to watch fireworks that center on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Authorities this year are advising revelers to watch on television. People are only allowed in downtown Sydney if they have a restaurant reservation or are one of five guests of an inner-city apartment resident. People won't be allowed in the city center without a permit.

Some haborside restaurants are charging up to 1,690 Australian dollars ($1,294) for a seat, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Wednesday.

Sydney is Australia's most populous city and has its most active community transmission of COVID-19 in recent weeks.

Melbourne, Australia's second-most populous city, has cancelled its fireworks this year.

"For the first time in many, many years we made the big decision, difficult decision to cancel the fireworks," Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp said.

"We did that because we know that it attracts up to 450,000 people into the city for one moment at midnight to enjoy a spectacular display and music. We are not doing that this year," she added.

New Zealand, which is two hours ahead of Sydney, and several of its South Pacific island neighbors have no COVID-19, and New Year celebrations there are the same as ever.

In Chinese societies, the Lunar New Year celebration that falls in February in 2021 generally takes precedence over solar New Year, on Jan. 1. While celebrations of the Western holiday have been...

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