Countries Juggle New Year's Celebrations With Ongoing Pandemic Concerns
A security guard wears a face mask that reads "Happy New Year 2021" during an event in Berlin. John Macdougall/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A security guard wears a face mask that reads "Happy New Year 2021" during an event in Berlin.
John Macdougall/AFP via Getty ImagesUpdated at 8:47 p.m. ET
Much like the rest of 2020, New Year's celebrations look very different this year.
While large masses of people usually congregate in major cities around the world on New Year's Eve, many places are attempting to curb crowd sizes as the coronavirus continues to dominate public health concerns.
The clock has already struck midnight in a majority of the Eastern Hemisphere. Here's a look at how people are celebrating during the pandemic:
Sydney
Fireworks for the new year are seen over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Traditionally close to 1 million people watch the event by the harbor, which was closed to the public this year. Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images hide caption
Fireworks for the new year are seen over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Traditionally close to 1 million people watch the event by the harbor, which was closed to the public this year.
Wendell Teodoro/Getty ImagesTokyo
Crowds walk through Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo as Japan enters 2021. In past years, tens of thousands of people celebrated in this spot. Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images hide caption
Crowds walk through Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo as Japan enters 2021. In past years, tens of thousands of people celebrated in this spot.
Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty ImagesManila, Philippines
People watch a drone show while wearing masks in Manila, Philippines. Officials have encouraged people to avoid large gatherings. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images hide caption
People watch a drone show while wearing masks in Manila, Philippines. Officials have encouraged people to avoid large gatherings.
Ezra Acayan/Getty ImagesHong Kong
A crowd walks through Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor, a spot usually dedicated to larger New Year's celebrations, including fireworks, which were canceled this time. Kin Cheung/AP hide caption
A crowd walks through Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor, a spot usually dedicated to larger New Year's celebrations, including fireworks, which were canceled this time.
Kin Cheung/APMumbai, India
People ring in the new year by watching fireworks in front of the Gateway of India in Mumbai. Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
People ring in the new year by watching fireworks in front of the Gateway of India in Mumbai.
Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty ImagesMoscow
Sparklers are lit in front of Saint Petersburg's Palace Square as the city celebrates. Alexander Demianchuk/REUTERS hide caption
Sparklers are lit in front of Saint Petersburg's Palace Square as the city celebrates.
Alexander Demianchuk/REUTERSCairo
Fireworks explode over the Nile River in Cairo as the year ends. Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Fireworks explode over the Nile River in Cairo as the year ends.
Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty ImagesParis
The Eiffel Tower stands bright as Parisians remain under curfew until 6 a.m. to avoid additional spread of the coronavirus. Stefano Rellandini/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
The Eiffel Tower stands bright as Parisians remain under curfew until 6 a.m. to avoid additional spread of the coronavirus.
Stefano Rellandini/AFP via Getty ImagesRome
Two people kiss with masks on in Rome as the sun sets for the last time in 2020. Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters hide caption
Two people kiss with masks on in Rome as the sun sets for the last time in 2020.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersBrussels
The Grand Place in downtown Brussels stands nearly deserted as residents remain under curfew. Francisco Seco/AP hide caption
The Grand Place in downtown Brussels stands nearly deserted as residents remain under curfew.
Francisco Seco/APAjdovščina, Slovenia
A woman and her two cats watch the fireworks from her window in Ajdovščina, Slovenia. Jure Makovec/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A woman and her two cats watch the fireworks from her window in Ajdovščina, Slovenia.
Jure Makovec/AFP via Getty Images