Although farewell celebrations to the pandemic year of 2021 were almost as muffled as those that ushered it in, news that the Omicron variant wave appeared to be starting to recede brought hope for a happier New Year. The abrupt lifting https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/year-end-cheer-south-africans-midnight-curfew-lifted-2021-12-31 of a night-time curfew meant celebrations could ring in 2022. Nearby, tourist Jochem Verbunt said his hope for 2022 was "that corona will be gone." Although deaths have not risen in kind, bringing hope the new variant is milder, many countries have reimposed restrictions to prevent healthcare systems from being overwhelmed. The place had been nearly packed nightly just a few weeks ago before Omicron wiped out business, said head waiter Juan Lozano.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 01, 2022 00:01 UTC