NEW YORK — Times Square will host approximately 43,000 fewer people than normal and require revelers to be fully vaccinated and masked as part of a “scaled back” New Year’s Eve celebration, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.
Around 15,000 people will be allowed to attend this year’s celebration at the Crossroads of the World, down from the usual 58,000, de Blasio said in a press release.
What You Need To Know
- Around 15,000 people will be allowed to attend this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, down from the usual 58,000, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday
- All attendees will be required to wear masks, and attendees ages five and up will have to prove that they are fully vaccinated
- The event will also be held entirely outdoors, with socially distanced viewing areas that will only open to visitors at 3 p.m.
All attendees will be required to wear masks, and attendees ages five and up will have to prove that they are fully vaccinated, meaning at least 14 days out from receiving the second dose of a two-shot vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine, the release said.
The event will also be held entirely outdoors, with socially distanced viewing areas that will only open to visitors at 3 p.m. — a “much later” entry time than usual, according to the release.
“New Yorkers have stepped up tremendously over the past year — we are leading the way on vaccinations, we have reopened safely, and every day we work toward building a recovery for all of us,” de Blasio said in a statement.
“There is a lot to celebrate, and these additional safety measures will keep the fully vaccinated crowd safe and healthy as we ring in the New Year,” he added.
New York City set the rules for the celebration “in consultation with health and medical experts,” the release noted.
Last year, organizers held a “virtually enhanced celebration” for New Year’s Eve in Times Square that included a scaled-back live event.
