Millions of new year’s revellers thronged streets and bars across England to see in the first moments of 2022.
Crowds gathered in major cities to mark the countdown despite surging rates of Covid that led to a relatively muted occasion as many stayed at home.
The celebrations were joined by people from Scotland and Wales who wanted to escape restrictions on their side of the border as Omicron surges across all three nations.
Many dressed for the occasion and left jackets at home as temperatures reached 15.8C in some parts of the country, making it the hottest New Year’s Eve since records began.
The gatherings followed another record increase in Covid cases, with a further 189,846 cases reported in government figures on Friday.
However, a new lockdown does not appear to be imminent, with Sajid Javid saying new restrictions will be an ‘absolute last resort’.
The Health Secretary said the nation will have to ‘live alongside’ coronavirus in 2022’, even though it will ‘test the limit of finite NHS capacity even more than a typical winter’.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: ‘Curbs on our freedom must be an absolute last resort and the British people rightly expect us to do everything in our power to avert them.
‘Since I came into this role six months ago, I’ve also been acutely conscious of the enormous health, social and economic costs of lockdowns.
So I’ve been determined that we must give ourselves the best chance of living alongside the virus and avoiding strict measures in the future.’
Mr Javid added a cautious note, warning that it is ‘inevitable that we will still see a big increase’ in Covid rates in January 2022.
The Prime Minister had warned people heading out for New Year’s Eve to get tested before joining the celebrations.
He said: ‘Everybody should enjoy New Year but in a cautious and sensible way – take a test, ventilation, think about others but, above all, get a booster.’
Unlike the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, he chose not to impose tighter restrictions aimed at allaying the record-breaking spread of Covid.
Revellers in England have to show NHS Covid passes at nightclubs, dance halls and discos under rules introduced on December 15.
Indoor events with 500 or more people who are likely to move around must also check that people have been double vaccinated, tested negative or are exempt for medical reasons. The rule also applies to outdoor events, such as festivals, with 4,000 or more people.
Restrictions include a one-metre physical distancing at large events, with limits of 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors.
However, that did not deter some revellers from making the journey to party south of the border.
Lana-Terri McBride, 18, and friend Alexander Davidson, 19, drove from Glasgow to Newcastle for the countdown.
Lana told The Sun: ‘We have not had a life for the past two years. This night out means so much to me. We’ve just been stuck in.’
In Wales, the ‘rule of six’ has been reintroduced for groups meeting in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales. A total of 30 people are allowed at indoor events, while up to 50 can attend events outdoors.
The two-metre social distancing is now required in public premises and offices and nightclubs have been closed.
In London, Big Ben’s chimes and fireworks saw in the new year, although the traditional display was cancelled for a second year. The scaled-back pyrotechnics were broadcast at midnight near the city’s landmarks.
The BBC coverage also included Hamilton actor Giles Terera performing a poem by Thomas Roberts reflecting on the country’s recent achievements.
Terera said: ‘As Big Ben’s chimes ring out around us, signalling a year that’s new, raise a glass, turn up the volume and welcome 2022.
‘And as we share this midnight moment, and imagine all that’s still to come, let’s relish the magnificent things we achieved in 2021.
‘We rallied around our NHS heroes as they rolled out the vaccination, and we stood beside our Three Lions, heads raised and proud, united together as a nation.’
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