According to data released by Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 16:00 Eastern Time on December 30, the number of new confirmed cases in the United States exceeded 700,000 in a single day, setting a record since the outbreak of the epidemic. At the same time, on the evening of December 31 every year, the New Year's Eve landing ceremony in Times Square, New York, USA, is a local carnival to welcome the New Year. This New Year's Eve event has a history of more than 100 years since it first appeared in 1907. Every year, visitors from all over the world gather in Times Square to wait for the falling ceremony and make New Year's wishes to celebrate this special occasion.
However, the cross-Chinese New Year's Eve from 2020 to 2021, because of the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic, New York's Times Square canceled the live celebrations. This is the first time in a hundred years that No spectators have watched the falling ball ceremony in New York's Times Square.
On December 29, local time, in New York, USA, people registered for testing at a new crown virus testing point in Times Square.
At present, although the United States is struggling to cope with the surge in cases caused by the new crown variant Aomi Kerong and the collapse of the medical system, this year's cross-Chinese New Year's Eve, the carnival of the New Year can still gather in New York's Times Square, waiting for the New Year bell to ring. According to reports, this year's New Year's Eve event in New York's Times Square will limit the number of participants and require participants to provide proof of vaccination and must wear masks. (Previously reported: more than 20,000 cases per day, New York's Times Square New Year's Eve carnival: Come, bring your vaccine certificate and mask)
The person in charge of the falling ceremony confirmed the new crown
The remote control ceremony will be held smoothly
According to foreign media reports, since the emergence of Omi Kerong in the United States, New York City has been plagued by it, setting a record of 39,591 new confirmed cases in a single day on the 29th. After Christmas, New York City added more than 110,000 new confirmed cases, including John Trowbridge, the head of the New Year's Eve ceremony in Times Square.
On December 27, local time, workers installed a crystal ball device in Times Square, New York, to welcome the arrival of the New Year.
John's company said that John has a lot of experience, and only he can ensure the smooth progress of the New Year's Eve event landing ceremony. For the past 25 years, John has checked into the hotel a week before the Chinese New Year's Eve, constantly testing and inspecting the equipment and systems needed for the falling ceremony to ensure that the falling ceremony can be successfully completed on the night of the cross-Chinese New Year's Eve. John said, "Every year on December 31st, from 11:45 to 11:59 p.m., when the crystal ball moves slowly, I feel that that period of time is the longest moment of my life." ”
It is reported that the falling ball ceremony is one of the most important activities of the times square Chinese New Year's Eve every year, on the occasion of the countdown to welcome, a 12-foot diameter, weighing 5,000 kilograms of super large crystal ball will slowly fall from the top of Times Square, heralding the arrival of the new year. The 2022 Crystal Ball is the largest crystal ball in the world, weighing about 5.4 tons and consisting of 2688 Watford triangle crystals, of which 192 were newly installed this year.
People walk in Times Square, New York.
On December 31 of previous years, John would arrive at 4:45 a.m. to supervise the on-site layout and commissioning of equipment. At 6 p.m., test the operation of the crystal ball. And at 11:59 p.m., appear on the roof and wait for the assistant to press the button where the crystal ball descends.
However, this year's cross-Chinese New Year's Eve was a little special for John, because just two days before the cross-Chinese New Year's Eve, he tested positive for COVID-19. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the falling ceremony, John and his colleagues conduct nucleic acid tests for the new crown virus every day, and he has previously had 11 colleagues who tested positive. To this end, John has also made adequate epidemic prevention measures. "I try to avoid crowded places, wear A KN95 mask when I go out, and the first thing I do when I go back to the hotel is to disinfect it with alcohol." Even at this year's Christmas party, I was careful to reduce my close contact with others. John said.
Although John did a lot of anti-epidemic measures, he was diagnosed with COVID-19. This year's Cross-Chinese New Year's Eve, he can only work remotely in the hotel, controlling the falling ball ceremony. In an interview with the media, he said that he is currently in good physical condition and can work as usual. John said, "I have filled all my communications equipment with electricity and have been in close contact with the field staff. I believe in their abilities and that this year's landing ceremony will be a success. ”
It is reported that on December 30, local time, the New York Times Square cross-Chinese New Year's Eve countdown crystal ball test lights up, and the scene is open to some people for preview.
The Olmikron strain is rampant
Many countries have cancelled New Year's Eve activities
Although New York City announced that this year's cross-Chinese New Year's Eve activities will remain unchanged, many other major cities around the world have announced that they will cancel new year's Eve celebrations to prevent the covid-19 epidemic from worsening further.
There will be no New Year's fireworks display in the Acropolis of Athens, Greece, where Health Minister Thanos Prevlis said at a news conference that all previously planned Christmas and New Year celebrations around the region would be canceled.
Berlin Infographic
Germany also announced strict restrictions from December 28 and banned New Year's rallies. It also means that major cities such as the capital Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt will not host celebratory rallies with large fireworks displays. Scottish Government Chief Minister Nigula Sturgeon previously announced that public celebrations in cities such as Edinburgh would be cancelled. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Monday that due to the surge in coronavirus infections in the UK due to the Aomi Kerong strain, the event originally planned to be held in Trafalgar Square has been cancelled and replaced by a New Year's eve programme broadcast on BBC television. Affected by the new wave of the epidemic, France also announced the cancellation of the traditional fireworks display held on the Champs Elysées. Venice, Italy, also canceled open-air concerts and fireworks displays in the new Chinese New Year's Eve.
On December 29, people walked past the Place Trocadero near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
The United Nations Health Organization warned on the 29th that the simultaneous spread of the Olmikharong strain and the Delta strain may trigger a "tsunami of cases". At the same time, the epidemic situation in many European countries has once again been urgent, and France and the United Kingdom have recently reported new confirmed cases of covid-19. French Health Minister Olivier Verand expects the daily increase in COVID-19 cases in France to reach as many as 250,000 by early January next year.
Red Star News reporter Fan Xu Intern reporter Li Jinrui
Edited by Guo Yu
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