Asia Immediately: No watching NYE fireworks from Sydney harborside

Authorities have banned New Yr’s Eve revelers from congregating in Sydney’s downtown harborside to see the celebrated fireworks because of the pandemic danger

SYDNEY — Authorities have banned New Yr’s Eve revelers from congregating in Sydney’s downtown harborside to see the celebrated fireworks because of the pandemic danger.

New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian mentioned on Monday individuals who reside within the metropolis heart can invite as much as 10 visitors to their properties to rejoice. The visitors must apply for permits to enter the world.

Australia’s largest metropolis recorded 5 new instances of COVID-19 related to a cluster within the northern seashores area, bringing the whole to 126 infections since Dec. 10.

Round 1 million individuals normally congregate on the harbor foreshore to see the annual fireworks that heart on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

In different developments across the Asia-Pacific area:

— South Korea has confirmed its first instances of a extra contagious variant of COVID-19 that was first recognized in the UK. The Korea Illness Management and Prevention Company mentioned Monday the instances are a household of three individuals who got here to South Korea on Dec. 22. They arrived a day earlier than South Korea halted air journey from Britain till Dec. 31 to protect in opposition to the brand new model of the virus. The three individuals, who reside within the U.Ok., are beneath quarantine in South Korea. South Korea on Monday registered 808 new coronavirus instances, elevating its nationwide caseload to 57,680 with 819 deaths.