London:
On New Years Eve, the British government is running ads imploring people not to celebrate with anyone outside their household. The campaign is urging Britons to “see in the New Year safely at home.” No parties, no hugging strangers, no mass choruses of “Auld Lang Syne.” Stephen Powis, medical director of the National Health Service in England, says “COVID loves a crowd”
Most of the country’s population is under lockdown measures to slow the spread of a new, easily transmissible coronavirus strain. Social gatherings involving multiple households are barred. Police will be patrolling to deter groups planning to celebrate or to mark Britain’s final economic split from the European Union
London’s annual New Years Eve fireworks display, which usually draws thousands of people to the banks of the River Thames, has been cancelled. One tradition will continue: The huge Big Ben bell of Parliament will sound 12 bongs at midnight.
