Ne York Governor Andrew Cuomo hasn’t weighed in on whether he will allow Santa to travel from house to house this Christmas, but due to current restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic Halloween is questionable and the annual Thanksgiving parade is at best a scaled down affair.

The latest in traditional large crowd gatherings, the annual dropping of the ball and New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square has been squelched and is being replaced by socially distant event with virtual elements.

NYE event sponsors the Times Square Alliance, Jamestown Properties and Countdown Entertainment released a statement saying that while some elements are still in the planning stages, the in person segments will have an extremely limited number of attendees.

Long considered a “bucket list” event, each year millions of people flock to New York City’s Time Square to celebrate the ringing in of a new year with millions more watching on their television sets from home.  New Year’s Eve organizers have announced that they will be creating a virtual experience where people can celebrate the New Year no matter where they are.  Time Square Alliance president Tim Tompkins said, “more than ever in these divided and fear-filled times, the world desperately needs to come together symbolically and virtually to celebrate the people and things we love and to look forward with a sense of renewal and new beginnings.”

Organizers noted that this year the celebration “will honor essential workers and others who have made a difference in 2020.”