NEW Year's Eve will be marked privately this year in homes around Northern Ireland as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic continues to pose a huge risk to public health.
Usually the busiest night of the year for bars and restaurants as families and friends gather together to pop the cork to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new, it is expected that the only sound at midnight this year will be that of some clocks tolling the arrival of 2021.
There have been repeated appeals from officials including Health Minister Robin Swann for people to also abstain from hosting or attending new year's eve parties in homes as coronavirus cases continue to spiral.
Anyone who had planned to stay indoors and order in a lavish new year feast will also be disappointed as due to the new restrictions, a curfew from 8pm to 6am will also remain in place so deliveries will need to be ordered early.
While a large number of events had been planned at locations including The Europa and Titanic Belfast, all were cancelled in the run up to the festive season due to government restrictions.
In Dublin, the New Year's Festival, which had been expected to attract 110,000 people to the city over three days, was also cancelled.
However, anyone hoping to still enjoy a taste of new year festivities, can tune in to RTE’s NYE Countdown, which will be presented by Kathryn Thomas and Deirdre O’Kane live from the Gaiety Theatre at 10.45pm tonight.
During the event, Fáilte Ireland will showcase Ireland’s beauty with a countdown tour of the country's illuminating locations from Kilkenny to Cork, Killarney, Tipperary and Killaloe with a special live performance of New Day from Lyra.
In London, the city's annual fireworks display will take place however, people are asked to stay home as there is no public event taking place.
Instead, people are asked to tune in to BBC1 for the event during a special broadcast.
In Australia, officials have banned people from gathering near Sydney Harbour Bridge to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks display.
The celebrated annual event, which normally attracts around one million people to the city's harbourside, can only be watched live by those who live in the area and their guests.
Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, yesterday advised anyone with plans for New Year's Eve to "rethink those plans".
"Celebrate this New Year's Eve within your household, with your household and with no other contact outside your household," he said.
"That is what we all should be doing.
"We can all play a part here in ensuring we can protect each other, our family and protect our health service and now is the time for us all to come together here like never before".
