NYE celebration in Trafalgar Square cancelled as Omicron surges in London
Covid cases have dramatically surged across the capital (Picture: Getty Images)

London’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Trafalgar Square will not take place as Omicron cases explode across the capital.

The event was scheduled to replace the capital’s iconic firework show after the display was cancelled in October due to continued uncertainty amid the pandemic.

But Mayor Sadiq Khan said this evening the substitute could not go ahead either.

The city has been hit with 140,942 confirmed infections in the week to December 19 – more than three times as many as the 42,455 in the first week of this month.

Numbers have jumped by up to 500% among young adults, while rates are also beginning to rise amongst older people, who are more likely to fall seriously ill.

Only a third of eligible Londoners have come forward for their booster so far compared to around half of England.

The cancellation comes as Boris Johnson rules out immediate extra restrictions – but says he ‘reserves the possibility of taking future action’.

The ticketed event on December 31 was set to feature food stalls and ‘some of London’s best stage performers’.

Mr Khan said it was ‘in the interests of public safety’ to stop 6,500 partygoers coming together.

People visit a Christmas market in London, Britain, December 20, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
People visit a Christmas market in London on Monday (Picture: Reuters)
People wearing face masks enjoy a shower of artificial snow in Covent Garden, London, as the government refused to rule out introducing further restrictions to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus Picture date: Monday December 20, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus Retail. Photo credit should read: XXXX/PA Wire
One group refused to let Covid dampen their Christmas spirit as they enjoyed a shower of artificial snow in Covent Garden today (Picture: PA)

A statement from him read: ‘With infections of Covid-19 at record levels across our city and the UK, I’m determined to work closely with partners in our city to do everything we possibly can to slow the spread of the new variant and ensure our NHS services are not overwhelmed this winter.

‘This means that we will no longer be hosting a celebration event for 6,500 people on Trafalgar Square this New Year’s Eve.

‘This will be very disappointing for many Londoners, but we must take the right steps to reduce the spread of the virus.’

He said a ‘live broadcast spectacular celebrating our city and highlighting the most defining moments of 2021 will still be the centrepiece of London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations’.

People have been urged to stay home and watch it live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, amid cautions that it will not be visible from the ground or key locations.

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