For the last twelve months they left a change of president in the United States, an Olympic games without spectators, dreams of broken democracy from Afghanistan to Burma or Nicaragua and the image of Leo Messi without the Barcelona shirt.But it was the pandemic, which enters its third year, that has dominated the life of much of humanity again.More than 5.4 million people have died since the detection of virus in center of China in December 2019.

More than 280 million contracted the virus according to an AFP balance based on official data, although the real figure can be much higher.And almost all humanity has been dragged by a sway of confinements and restrictions based on the evolution of pandemic.

Vaccines provided Esperanza, with more than 60% of the immunized world population.But its distribution has been unequal, especially in poor countries, which has facilitated the emergence of new variants.The last one, omicron, has first caused more than one million infections in a week, according to an AFP count.

Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, or Argentina have also registered records of new daily infections.

Six tons of fireworks

The nation of Kiribati, located in the Pacific, became the first to welcome the new year from 10h00 GMT.Sydney, the largest city in Australia and one of the first to receive the year 2022, launched six tons of fireworks, illuminating its iconic port.

Unlike 2020, the show brought together tens of thousands of people, after Australia abandoned her virus eradication strategy this year and seek to live with him.But the influx was far from the usual million or more of attendees.Tourists still cannot enter the country and many residents fear rapid propagation of omicron."Hopefully 2022 is better for everyone," said Oscar Ramírez, 31.

In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai celebrated the arrival of 2022 with 36 fireworks launched in 29 different places.First thing in the afternoon, groups of people had already gathered to observe the show in the highest tower in the world, the Burj Khalifa, 828 meters.In Tunisia, the authorities canceled at the last minute the celebrations provided for Bourguiba Avenue, the central route of the capital, for the increase in infections.

In Rio de Janeiro, who usually gather millions of people at Copacabana Beach, the celebration gathered less public for rain and sanitary restrictions.

Where there would normally be a crowd watered to alcohol and music, scattered groups of Brazilian and foreign tourists walked through the Copacabana Rambla hours before midnight under an intermittent drizzle.While in Times Square in New York, official events will be reduced, but crowds are also expected.

Half parties

But given the wave of cases caused by the contagious new variant, many governments have decided to recover the restrictions.In Paris, where the traditional fireworks show was canceled in New Year's.

Mexico City, Sao Paulo or Bangkok canceled their New Year's celebrations, Greece prohibited music in bars and restaurants and Pope Francis suspended his usual New Year's Eve visit to the manger of San Pedro Square and did not preside over the ceremony of the end of the end of the end of the end of year.

In Holland, the authorities prohibited fireworks for the second consecutive year, to prevent injuries related to their launch from involving an additional load to health services.However, a 12 -year -old boy died and another was seriously injured while, apparently, he observed how an adult launched fireworks, according to the police.

In Spain, most cities annulled their public celebrations, but not Madrid, which allowed 7.000 people eat grapes at the door of the Sun at the rhythm of the bells of the square clock.There was less than half of the 19.000 people who fit in the famous Madrid square, and the mask was mandatory except to eat the grapes, but the distances were rather short.

"We are all stuck with each other, it is impossible, [but] the one who wants to come here already knows what is exposed," said Arantxa Concepción, a social integrator of Beasáin (north).For many, in Bombay, Barcelona or Montreal, the party must end before for the touches of exiles against the virus.

In South Africa, where the new variant was detected at the end of November, the presidency decided otherwise: to lift the touch touch just before the New Year, after overcoming the infection peak caused by omicron.

But the World Health Organization does not want to lower the guard and warns that the "tsunami" of contagios can put the health systems "on the verge of collapse".