NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- As New York City gets ready to ring in 2022 with thousands of revelers in Times Square, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday that Americans should hold off on large New Year’s Eve parties with “everybody hugging and kissing.”
Speaking at a White House COVID-19 Task Force briefing focusing on the fast-spreading omicron variant, Fauci said large parties with dozens of people aren’t a good idea for New Year’s weekend.
“If your plans are to go to a 40-to-50-person New Year’s Eve party with all the bells and whistles and everybody hugging and kissing and wishing each other a Happy New Year, I would strongly recommend that, this year, we do not do that,” Fauci said.
However, Fauci said smaller gatherings among vaccinated and boosted family members should be safe.
“If you were in a situation with a family setting, in your home, with family—parents, children, grandparents—and everyone is vaccinated and boosted, although the risk is never zero in anything, the risk is low enough that we feel you should continue to go through with those plans of having a home-related, vaccinated, boosted gathering with family and close friends who are also vaccinated and boosted,” Fauci said.
“So, it really depends on what your plans are,” he added.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week that New York City would go ahead with its New Year’s Eve bash in Times Square but that the event would be scaled back with added safety measures.
De Blasio said that in addition to requiring proof of full vaccination with a valid photo ID, attendees will be required to wear masks.
Viewing areas will also be filled with fewer people to allow for social distancing, the mayor said.
While 58,000 people are normally allowed in viewing areas, this year’s celebration will host only 15,000 people. Visitors also won’t be allowed entry until 3 p.m., much later than in years’ past.
A jump in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the city with the rise of omicron this month has led to continued calls for the Times Square event to be scrapped altogether.
Councilmember and Manhattan borough president-elect Mark Levine said Wednesday that the annual celebration—which was closed to the public entirely last year—is too risky, even with the added precautions.
“We’ve seen large outdoor gatherings lead to a lot of spread of omicron,” Levine said.
The councilmember also noted “there will be pre-parties and after-parties.”
“So, it’s not only about what happens while they’re standing in Times Square, it just more broadly creates more opportunities for spread,” he said.
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