NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The 2022 New Year's Eve numbers arrived in Times Square on Monday as Mayor Bill de Blasio weighs a scaled-back festivity amid surging coronavirus cases.
This year's Times Square celebration, first heralded by de Blasio as a "full strength" return to pre-pandemic years, just last month, is expected to include fully vaccinated revelers who must provide proof of vaccination and a valid ID upon arrival.
On Monday, the outgoing mayor said during his daily news conference that he would make a decision about the event "certainly before Christmas."
"If we have to modify those plans in a way, we're certainly going to let people know that in just the next few days," he said.
At 7-feet tall and with 600 LED bulbs, the 2022 numbers will be on display until noon on Thursday. Visitors are allowed to take photos in front of the numbers.
The numbers will then be installed on top of One Times Square and will light up at midnight on Jan. 1.
Despite rising COVID-19 positive cases, de Blasio said Monday that the key to avoiding further pandemic restrictions and holding one of the city's most treasured events will be vaccinations and testing.
"We're looking at anything that will make this work best, but right now it is on, fully vaccinated, outdoors, of course, that's the plan, but we're talking to [the] Times Square Alliance, and if we need to make any other modifications, obviously, working very closely with our health care leaders, we'll decide that in the course [of] this week," de Blasio added.
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