London’s New Year’s Eve firework display has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the event wouldn’t go ahead because ‘we simply cannot afford’ to have a mass gathering.
Normal scenes in London. Credit: PA
Speaking on LBC Radio, Mr Khan said: “I can tell you that there will not be a fireworks New Year’s Eve this year like in previous years.
“We simply cannot afford to have the numbers of people who congregate on New Year’s Eve congregating.”
The mayor added: “What we are working on – we’re not in a position yet to say what it is because we’ve not done the details yet – is to do something that people can enjoy in the comfort and safety of their living rooms on TV.”
Credit: PA
The 49-year-old promised to let Londoners know the plans as well as people across the rest of the country that were planning on travelling to the county’s capital for the infamous display.
He went on: “But we can’t lose that slot because New Year’s Eve is a really good opportunity for the rest of the world to see how wonderful our city is and particularly during a recession.
“We need to continue investing in our city and people coming to London. So no fireworks on New Year’s Eve – there will be nothing happening in town so the key thing is to avoid there being a reason for people to come into town.”
Sadiq Khan. Credit: PA
LBC presenter, James O’Brien, pointed out that bars would presumably still be open for people to celebrate, to which the mayor added: “We’ll have to wait and see how the virus pans out. It’s still a number of weeks away, we’re in September.”
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When O’Brien said what we were all thinking: “You’ve cancelled New Year’s Eve, Sadiq Khan,” he was quick to respond: “I’ve cancelled the fireworks in the heart of London this year.”
As well as bringing about problems for New Year’s Eve, the coronavirus pandemic might also bring down Halloween.
Credit: PA
Over in the US, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has been forced to revise its Halloween guidance after a public outcry.
Having banned door-to-door Trick or Treating, officials will simply recommend that the activity should be dropped for this year.
Dr Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director, said it was ‘just not sensible’ in a pandemic.
“Trick or Treating, we’re highly recommending that it not happen,” she said during a press briefing on Wednesday (9 September). “We don’t think it’s an appropriate activity during a pandemic.
“You know, there’s no guarantee when you go Trick or Treating that your child goes up to a house where the person who opens the door is wearing a face covering.
“And when you don’t know the people opening the door, there’s no guarantee they’re not sick and that the candy they’re passing out that they’ve touched may not be safe for you to want your child to be sharing.”
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