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City officials say people 'gotta be smart' about gathering for New Year's Eve celebrations in the wake of major COVID surge

New Year's Eve COVID-19
New Year's Eve celebration in the midst of COVID-19 surge
Getty Images

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The worst ever surge in COVID cases is raising concerns about New Year's celebrations, including the city's fireworks.

The city designed the celebration with social distancing in mind, spreading the fireworks over a mile and a half.


Answering some criticism about such a large-scale event while there's a record number of new COVID cases, Mayor Lightfoot said at a news conference:

"You gotta be smart. I'm not gonna be the mom and tell people what they should and shouldn't do," she said. "I'm gonna be home watching the fireworks on my television set and I encourage other people to take advantage of that."

Public Health Commissioner, Dr, Alison Arwady, supports the city's celebration as it is an outdoor event.

"I would much rather have people outside than inside if the are going to be gathering," she said.

For those getting together indoors, she said, she wouldn't do it with people who aren't vaccinated.

Health officials fully expect a post-celebration surge pushing a record number of cases even higher.