London cancels New Year event over virus surge
A major New year celebration in
London will be cancelled, the British capital's mayor said on Monday, as
worries mount over a surge in virus cases sparked by the Omicron variant.
Sadiq Khan said infections were at
record levels in the city and he needed to do everything possible to slow the
spread of the new variant.
"This means that we will no
longer be hosting a celebration event for 6,500 people on Trafalgar Square this
New Year's Eve," he said.
"This will be very
disappointing for many Londoners, but we must take the right steps to reduce
the spread of the virus."
The city authorities said there
would be a "live broadcast spectacular" on the BBC instead that would
celebrate the city. Paris has already announced that its annual fireworks show
and other events will be cancelled and Germany is expected to follow suit, with
plans on the table to close nightclubs and limit the size of private parties.
Daily case rates have repeatedly
broken records over the last week as the country -- one of Europe's worst-hit
by the virus, with more than 147,000 deaths during the pandemic -- struggles to
contain Omicron. However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson defied pressure on
Monday to tighten restrictions over Christmas, vowed to keep the situation
"under constant review".