In pictures: New Year, but not quite as we know it
- Published
Millions around the world have been seeing out 2020 and marking the start of 2021, although the coronavirus pandemic has forced many celebrations behind closed doors.
With lockdowns or other restrictions in place in many countries, would-be New Year partygoers have been told to have a quiet night in.
Others have attended ceremonies or festivals wearing masks or taking other precautions.
In Tokyo below, people visited the Kanda Myojin Shrine to offer prayers. The popular Shinto shrine reduced the number of visitors allowed, as Japan faces another wave of Covid-19 infections.
In Wuhan, China, crowds gathered in the city with balloons and festive outfits to count down to midnight on New Year's Eve.
Fireworks lit up the night sky in Taiwan to mark the beginning of 2021 as a number of cities cancelled their celebrations, moving them online instead.
Like this family in Seoul, South Korea, many globally have marked the celebration in a small way and often at home.
In the Philippines, groups gathered in a park in Manila (below) to watch a fireworks display. Authorities had urged residents not to form large crowds.
In Hong Kong, groups gathered in front of Victoria Harbour to celebrate together as the territory shared a virtual countdown for viewers around the world.
It was a chilly celebration In Yekaterinburg, Russia, as people gathered at the city hall, waving sparklers in the 1905 Square...
While in the United Arab Emirates, one of the largest New Year fireworks displays saw spectacular colours light up the sky over the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah...
Fireworks illuminated the sky around the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, as the clock struck midnight in Dubai.
In Moscow, residents near Red Square saw a huge firework display lit up the St Basil's cathedral and the Kremlin as Russian authorities prohibited crowds from gathering.
A fireworks and light show was held across various locations in London. A number of drones filled the sky close to the 02 Arena in East London forming messages referencing the pandemic, including the NHS logo.
All pictures copyright