Everyone seems eager to put 2020 behind them, but because of the pandemic, we need to do it at home in a safe, responsible way (more on this). Times Square is essentially out of bounds this year.
I can probably still watch from the street, right?
No one will be allowed near One Times Square, where New Year’s Eve falls in the new year to ring, or near the performance stages. The NYPD is blocking the streets.
“My message to those in the new year: please stay home,” NYPD head of department Terrence Monahan said Wednesday on New Year’s Eve. “There are absolutely no spectators allowed in Times Square. There are no public fireworks in Coney Island. And there is no midnight run in Central Park.”
So keep “Greeting the New Year in Times Square” on your list for at least another year, and watch the action on the webcast, on television (are you more? Dick Clark’s Rockin ‘New Year’s Eve With Ryan Seacrest, Billy Porter, and Lucy Hale ‘or’ CNN’s New Year’s Eve Hosted By Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen ‘?), Or on the New Year’s Eve app.
Chief Monahan emphasized the virtual element and made sure that people did not get the wrong idea about those who are part of the planned festivals.
“This year, everyone will have to watch the Times Square ball fall. And you see stages with talent and staff at the Crossroads of the World. But the spectators you see will be members of the cast and part of the production and was pre-screened for the virus, ”said Monahan.
Which streets will be closed and when?
The NYPD begins at 3pm on Thursday 31 December to close streets around Times Square with traffic and pedestrian barriers. These streets include West 45th Street, West 49th Street, 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue.
What if I want to drive through Times Square on Wednesday, December 30th?
This is not a good idea – there are many setups and police say there will be congestion in the area.
How can I get anywhere?
Take public transportation.
The NYPD also says: “Street parking will be extremely limited in the Midtown area.” So leave your cars at home, which should be easy because you have to stay home!
Are you serious about New Year at home?
Yes! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends: “The safest way to celebrate the new year is to celebrate at home with the people who live with you or virtually with friends and family.”
As always, if you are around people outside your household / pod, the CDC says:
- Wear a mask.
- Stay at least 2 feet apart.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Get a flu shot as soon as possible.
But really, the CDC wants you to virtually celebrate and watch a live stream at home.