UK welcomed the New Year under the restrictions as part of the measures to fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19). As they were last year, Fireworks and light shows that are held every year on the Thames River in front of the British Parliament were not held this year again. Canceled the New Year celebrations in the country after the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, British government urged its citizens to stay in and celebrate the New Year at home. Meanwhile in his New Year’s message, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to take their 3th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and to be tested before going to meetings. While underlining that it would be inconvenient for people who don’t have a negative COVID-19 test result to enter crowded environments, Johnson congratulated everyone’s New Year.
Meanwhile in London, the capital city of England, where celebrations are held every year, there was no official fireworks show held this year. But some Londoners, who came to celebrate the New Year, did not take into account the COVID-19 measures and set off fireworks in the city center. Despite the CODID-19 measures, celebrations were held around the London Eye, which is one of the symbols of London. Also lot more crowded groups were formed at the London Eye during New Year celebrations compared to last year. Within the framework of the COVID-19 measures taken in the UK, hundreds of police officers from the British Police Service warned people in London to disperse to their homes.