Fireworks, frolics... thank God 2021 is here at last!
DAZZLING pink fireworks, a sea of balloons and skyscraper spectacles – that’s how the rest of the world celebrated the New Year last night.
In Britain, however, those hoping for a few pyrotechnics to blast away the year were left a little disappointed.
Instead of the usual fireworks blowout on the Thames – roaring over the atmospheric chimes of Big Ben – all that could be seen was a dreary, low-lit Parliament.
Britons had to make do with a prerecorded laser display aired on BBC One. It featured 300 drones flying over the capital in shapes that celebrated pandemic heroes from Captain Sir Tom Moore to the NHS.
The London Eye also unveiled a prerecorded online light show that was made available to watch yesterday afternoon.
Over in Trafalgar Square last night – the time- honoured centre of the capital’s carousing – tall barriers stopped revellers getting in.
Britain was not alone in its caution, however, with European capitals including Moscow dialling down celebrations.
Tens of thousands usually attend the London firework display each year but Mayor Sadiq Khan called it off in September, fearing a super-spreading event.
Despite police warnings to count down to 2021 from home, there were fears the lockdown rules would be flouted, with illegal raves being promoted on social media in London, Brighton and South Wales.
Across the world, meanwhile, firework celebrations went ahead in cities as far afield as Sydney and Dubai.
Even Wuhan, the Chinese city in which the pandemic started, held festivities. In extraordinary scenes, hundreds of maskwearing revellers danced just inches apart as town squares hosted live music.
Residents then released balloons into the night sky as the clocks chimed midnight.
But there was little doubt last night that the place to be was Auckland.
Maskless crowds mingled freely in their thousands as around 500kg of fireworks lit up the Sky Tower skyscraper. The night was a testament to New Zealand’s unparalleled success at eradicating community transmission of Covid with a seven-week lockdown.
Michael Ahearne, CEO of the tower, said: ‘Being able to mark the occasion is cause for celebration, because unlike many other major cities and countries, New Zealand is managing Covid-19 well.’ Two hours later, Sydney’s fireworks display over Harbour Bridge turned the sky pink in a reassuring reminder of life before the pandemic.
But the spectacle was cut from 12 minutes to just seven, with no crowds enjoying the show from below.
Australia has recorded only 909 deaths since the pandemic began but state leaders pledged not to turn the festivities into a ‘super-spreader’.
In Taiwan, which has reported just 800 infections since the pandemic began, a crowd of 40,000 was allowed to watch a firework display at skyscraper Taipei 101 in the capital, provided they registered their personal details and wore masks.
Dubai managed 23 firework shows and 10 concerts, all subject to strict rules.
France, meanwhile, deployed 100,000 police and gendarmes to patrol the streets after an 8pm curfew, while Germany’s health minister Jens Spahn said he expected the country’s ‘quietest New Year’s Eve’ in memory. Celebrations in the Americas were also due to be muted as the continents continue to fight rising Covid cases.
‘A crowd of 40,000 watched a display’