New Year’s Eve fireworks over Sydney Harbour will go ahead this year but will be shortened to just a few minutes and the city precinct will be restricted to those with restaurant, cafe and hotel bookings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The first picture harborsides will be devoted to those health workers, who have treated COVID-19 patients and firefighters, and will usually be wanted by thousands of revelers to watch traditional 12-minute pyrotesy shows.
Although for weeks Australia has recorded new COVID-19 cases only daily, Premier Gladys Berejiklian of New South Wales said that the crowds in areas typically drawn by thousands of spectators will be limited.
Berejiklian has told reporters in Sydney: “The New Year Eve celebrations are a symbol of hope and optimism for next year.”
“But please don’t wait until you have a reservation at a restaurant or café.”
Berejiklian said that the people who have not booked will not be able to access the city.
There have not been any fewer than many other developed countries in Australia than just 27,600 new coronavirus infections and 907 deaths.
State of Victoria-the epicenter for Australia’s COVID-19 outbreak-has now detected infections for 10 days.