NEWS: Government Officials and Health Experts Encourage Public to Cancel New Year's Plans

We’re quickly approaching New Year’s Eve, and all the while, COVID-19 numbers are climbing around the country.

Happy New Year!

The Omicron variant is on the rise, and the COVID-19 positive testing rate is several times higher than it was just a few weeks ago. And now, government officials and leaders are encouraging Americans to avoid certain celebrations for the New Year.

According to the Washington Post, these warnings are coming from leaders all over the country. “Omicron and delta are coming to your party,” said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker at a news conference this week. “So you need to think twice about how many people will be gathered together, keeping social distancing if you’re at a party. And if you can’t, leave.”

Animal Kingdom Face Mask Signage

San Francisco has canceled its popular New Year’s show, and Mayor London Breed has noted that “we must remain vigilant in doing all we can to stop the spread of the covid-19 omicron variant.” New York City will also be scaling back its celebrations, requiring attendants to be fully vaccinated and wear a mask.

Health and Safety Sign from a few months ago.

Anthony Fauci noted similar warnings, saying “When you’re talking about a New Year’s Eve party where you have 30, 40, 50 people celebrating, you do not know the status of their vaccination, I would recommend strongly: Stay away from that this year.”

Crowds in Disney World the week before NYE

Plans are still on for Disney World and Disneyland to have New Year’s Eve entertainment, but Orlando, FL is calling off the Orange Ball drop this year (according to Click Orlando). A city official has noted that the tradition should return in 2022. Oddly enough, the cancellation is not due to the pandemic, but because of construction in the area.