here we go back to will, where it all began, and investigate how far we comes into the pandemic stuff. january on a, just a europe ah . new year's celebrations in the shadow of cove in 19 vista is thailand ringing in 2022. ah. hi there. kimbell, this is al jazeera live from doha, also coming up, walk around of ours cases. surge globally, south africa sees a for an hour, restrictions to be east. more than a 100 were hang refugees drifting for days at sea, towed to safety by the indonesian navy and thousands of people forced to leave

their homes as the most destructive wildfires in recent history take hold us state of colorado. the world has started bidding farewell to 2021. in the shadow of the pandemic and a surging omicron variant. these are pictures from thailand, switch is ringing in the new year with its 6 minutes. fireworks display event is being held in the capitol, bangkok, and spans 1.4 kilometers the cost, the child prior rid of it. on wednesday, the country reported its 1st cluster of the on the con variant fray. so oh, and hong kong celebrated the started the new year with a light show along it's victoria hub waterfront, as well as the fireworks display. authorities appealed to locals not to attend new year events. the city is recorded is 1st locally transmitted cases of the on the

con variant are for an airline work at broke home quarantine walls. and sydney was one of the 1st cities to greet the new year with a pyrotechnic spectacle. the display included a thank you to frontline workers. any of the world cities have called off, that is phase to help control the spread of coven 19. are the only con and out variance of coven 19 are pushing daily infection records in the us. more than 486000 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours experts, a warning that those figures will keep rising escalade. now to mike hannah, who is in washington d. c. a. mike. so what impact sir these numbers having in terms of hospitalization, the impact on emergency departments? well, it's got a massive impact at present. and the, according to the cdc latest figures,

there are some 80000 people in the united states who are ops hospitalized at this particular point. but the latest figures that were released by johns hopkins university show an increasingly high rate of infection. the latest figures released by johns hopkins show that within the last 24 hours, some 650000 people have tested positive. not the last figures from the cdc were produced on thursday. they have no figures over this weekend, but those figures showed some 40000. so that's an increase of some 30 percent in terms of the infection rate over the past 24 to 48 hours. so these are massive figures showing that the rate of infection is still on the shop increase in all some experts estimate that as many as 30000 people could die over the next 3 weeks . so these figures devastating for americans as they go into 2020 to the other

pools of concern is the high hospitalization rate of children. some 381 children have been admitted to hospital each day over the past 7 days. this is an increase of some 66 percent. now the vast majority of these children are unvaccinated, and that applies largely to the us population as well. the latest figures show that only 63 percent of americans are fully vaccinated. up that less than half have not had a booster shot. now this is something that health official say is continuing to drive the spiraling rate of infection and health officials pointing out as well. that the box amount of people being hospitalized and not vaccinated. that fee to vaccination shots plus the booster shot go a long way to reducing the effects. shouldn't individual contract any of the variance of the virus. so very dark figures for the united states at the end of

this particular year. the one point of some life perhaps, is the study produced by columbia university. which, reflecting on those south african figures that were just mentioned, indicates that the peak may be reached sometime in the middle of january. in other words, the rates may start to go, but that's a big may, and certainly as long as the vaccinated figures remain so high, the virus, regardless of the variation, is going to remain an ever present threat. my can are in washington dc. thank you. the u. k is just recorded another record number of infections with more than 189000 cases, health officials, ambition, a warning people against traveling to england from scotland, wales for the new year due to the high number of infections, u. k prime minister bras johnson is called on both celebration to get tested. the people who think the disease can't hurt them. look at the people going into

hospital now. that could be you look at the intensive care units and the miserable needless suffering of those who did not get that booster. that could be you. so making your new year's resolution far easier than losing weight or keeping a diary. find a walk in center or make an online appointment. get that job and do something that will make 2022. a happy new year. russell roy talent has more now from london. well, another day. another record number of new infections. the most recent data for the united kingdom shows that the new infection rate is at $189000.00. now that is twice the peak of the last wave in january. and there's no sign at the moment that the on the chrome wave has reached its peak. yet, the number of hospitalizations at the moment in england is 11400 and across the

board in all age groups. the, there are rising levels of cases and hospitalizations except for in young children . now, it doesn't seem to be yet leading to a big spike in people in intensive care units. but it doesn't really have to still be a massive burden and a massive strain on the national health service, particularly when there are huge numbers of and a staff who are themselves ill with coven, 19, or isolating at home. so yes, politicians across the united kingdom and all the, the devolved nations and parts of the u. k. a warning about the worsening situation for us. johnson, the prime minister is once again banging that vaccine drum and asking people to go and get themselves jobs. for french governments introduce new measures aimed at reducing the spread of the on the chrome variant residents and visitors in paris and are required to wear face masks outdoors. capital is also canceled the annual

new year's eve fireworks display on the shops of easy people have been urged to avoid large gatherings that no coffee has been opposed. the house butler has more from paris when this paris market. people are busy shopping for new year's eve. a special dinner isn't the end of year traditions and though it is the festival season, most people that we've spoken to has said that they are planning celebration because of the cosy crisis on this new year. we really didn't feel like partying with friends, so we are staying home with family. it's a bit sad, but these are the times we are in the office. i'll be home with my children and mother, just a small group and we're all getting tested before. well, the find health minister says the problem is facing a covalent tidal wave. recently, new infection cases exceeded 200 miles and the day filled by the delta. and on the chrome variance,

the french government was to come down on new year's eve celebrations in order to try and stop the spread well, the fireworks of the famous shores believe they have been foreign, nightclubs or shops outdoors. social gatherings are also not permitted. and in some cities, including here in paris mosques, once again, mandatory in the street that we will use. it's new year's eve. people will be indoors with families, so it's important to wear masks, to protect old people. but it's true that outside masses are annoying, but it's about protecting other pretty cheap. it's disappointing. it feels like we're going backwards. nothing is changing. or restaurants and bars are still open and people can celebrate and socialize freely at home. but it's 2022 rovin. there's little doubt that most people in faults are hoping that is going to be the end of the covey crisis. at least the end of restrictions. the government says the best way after the panoramic is vaccination, but doctors warm that the health emergency is far from over. they say that i see

you beds are still filling up in front and the next few weeks could be extremely difficult. austria has tightened its entry roles, especially for visitors from countries deemed to be high risk. there are several new measures to prevent large gatherings during the festive season. those jabari has more from vienna. cases have fallen sharply here in austria since november 22nd . that's when this country became the 1st in western europe to re impose a full lockdown for over a month. before that point, their daily cases were over 15000 people being infected. and that this is a country of nearly 9000000. they've already lost over 13000 people to the corona virus, and over a 1000000 people have been infected. the chief medical officer and austria said that this is not a time to celebrate referring to new jersey celebrations. and that's why there's been a curfew and post, all the restaurants will be closing at 10 pm local time. so anybody who goes out

for celebrations has to be out of those facilities by 10 pm. the officials are hoping that the can also improve the vaccination rates, only 70 percent of last areas are fully vaccinated. this is a country that will be one of the 1st thing. western europe also and post vaccination mandate. as of february. first, it will be mandatory for people to be fully vaccinated to be able to go anywhere in this country. the officials have said that people who are not vaccinated they will be facing fines of up to 3600 euros. and there will be a registry at database, that's a government that can check to see whether or not people are on it. there of course has been criticism in all of this freedom party. the far right party has been holding rallies and demonstrations during the lockdown on weekends. crowds of nearly $40000.00 have come out to protest, but they say is a frenchman's on their civil liberties. there are also very specific rules here in austria when you want to go anywhere, even the source as

a special math are required, not any kind of massive is accepted. and there's also a very strict test and trace policy. you have to be tested every 48 hours to enter any story. you have to show a negative p c r test. that is no older than 48 hours. so there is a continuous search of people being tested across the country. all of this is in the hopes that the country will be able to write out the next wave that is coming with the on the kron variance of the corona virus. but it's a different story in south africa where restrictions are being lifted off to infections drops by almost 30 percent last week. and i, tom curfew is now been scrapped and alcohol stores will be able to stay open past 11 p. m. the government believes it's past the peak of a 4th way fueled by the on the convent. the fast spreading strain 1st identified in south africa, caused a massive surge of infections. so come here on al jazeera,

new york have as that scale down new, yet celebrations. and famous times square and the clock winds down on 2021. we look back at some of the biggest stories covered by coaches. ah hello there. we've got rain slaten, snow in the forecast for the middle east and for some quite a bit of it. it will call some disruption. you can see this line of cloud now making its way across the yo yi, around the straits of moves that brought a few spots of right to casa, as we went through the last 24 hours or so heaviest. mindful that seems around 4 millimeters, we could see significantly more as we go on through the we can touch of storms here, they will sink their way. further south was says that rain therefore caught off the bahrain will see some heavy rain, particularly making its way into

a western parts of the iran, and that rank could cause flash flooding here as we go through sunday, it should dry up for kata. she has a shower, run their way back up towards key weight, pushing all the way back up into iraq. we want to showers over to wolves, levant some of those showers, also affecting the ne, a for africa. we have seen some wet by the recently across the northern half of egypt, around the sinai peninsula cutting dry now for turkey. wanted to shout to just around the guinea coast. we might see some showers a bit of wet weather early on saturday into cape town for the archbishop desmond tutu funeral. early in the day it could be wet, it will brighten up as you go on. there will be some sunshine come the off new temperatures at around 19 degrees and rising. what a fish i was to for eastern pass, south africa. ah, ah, mother nature's gift of colorful landscape, a strong infrastructure governance arising where investors are willing to

flourish with even supplied by tradition. do where beautiful both of you are offered with . ah, ah, you're wanting al jazeera reminder about top stories this off. the world has started bidding farewell to 2021. in the shadow of the pandemic and a surging on the con barrett, sidney was one of the 1st to greet the new year. the spectacle included a thank you to front bind work is health officials and version a warning people

against traveling to england from scotland and wales due to the high number of cases. you guys just reported another record number of infections with more than 189000 of africa says it will ease restrictions after covered 19 infections dropped by almost 30 percent last week. the government believes it's past the peak of the surge caused by the on covariance at times square in new york is one of the most famous places in the world to ring in the new year. but once again, the pandemic has curtailed plans. and as gabriel alexander reports its housing local businesses, trying to bounce back on a recent de jasmine's caribbean restaurant the staff were busy getting ready for what they hoped would be a bustling dinner crowd. the restaurant which opened a year ago is in the heart of times square and christmas and new years are usually one of the busiest times of the year. but with new york now the u. s. epicenter of the coven outbreak owner jasmine gerard says there is

a problem for all business. i mean, we are suffering at this time right now. i mean, for me, thank the lord. i was able to open up in the pandemic and i had an opportunity to do so. but everyone is really struggling, and we definitely need people to come back to new york city. last month, the by did ministration reopened us borders to vaccinated tours for non essential travel. visitors have trickled back in to new york city, particularly times square, but not nearly to the pre pandemic levels. according to local officials, about $270000.00 people walk through times square each day during the month of december. that's about $100000.00 less than before the pandemic. and about 25 percent of all the businesses in time square remain closed. many our restaurants look closely on the side streets and it's noticeably quieter. just on

wednesday, more than 43000 people in new york city, tested positive for over 19. the numbers are rising so high, so fast that officials decided to scale back the famous new years. the ball drops. celebration here in time square from 70000 spectators to just 15000 and everyone will have to show proof of explanation. and we're a mass. i think more cautious. i think that at this point, you know, we're keeping an eye on the positivity rate, but it's not worrying us to a point where we're back at jasmine's. they've seen this movie before having struggled through last winter's covert wave. we were able to survive at that time and then you know, word of mouth spread. broadway opens, but now it's the sequel. and another covert surge taking it's toll on times square and on it's biggest night of the year. yeah,

gabriel's hondo al jazeera new york. after days addressed an open seas, more than a 100 were hang refugees in our safe and indonesia. the damaged vessel was towed to shore and archer, indonesia, initially planned to turn them away. but later, back found after international pressure. the un has praised. indeed, his response as jessica washington reports from jakarta, indonesia as anti province, a dangerous and exhausting journey has finally come to an end. these were hanger, refugees are finally safe intending to reach malaysia, they perilous journey, saw them stranded in indonesian waters for days. for now, they're staying in an empty government building in northern uh, j o. they are off fellow muslims. so we aren't going to complain about having them here. overnight a navy vessel pulled their boat to shore in effort that was complicated by strong waves and heavy winds. representatives from the you and hcr and local and cios

waited anxiously for their arrival. ready to assist young by my fellow family. the 1st thing we need to do is check their health, give them food and drink after their days stranded at sea. $47.00 children and 50 women are among those rescued from the damaged vessel. local fishermen from the town of buran 1st spotted the ship on sunday, near the coast of archie and immediately tried to assist them. some local said they felt solidarity with those on board as the plight of the ringo reminded them of our chaise own struggle us up while i get get. thus we got for la martha people here have experienced needing help from other countries. we can never forget was our situation was like when we were hit by the soon army, we thought although it took days for the government to confirm it would allow the refugees to disembark in indonesia, the you and hcr has thanked them,

saying they'd saved lives in a statement for you and hcr said it was grateful to indonesia for once again proving it's human, terry and spirit. it also praised indonesian authorities for it said, setting an example by once again, assisting ro hanger, refugees in distress at sea. human rights groups have also welcomed indonesia decision that said the process should be improved, so rescues can be faster. so i bring by improving the residential regulation on your browser. no lever. i think there one be views it any more in the future and there will there should be a quicker decision to help people in bangor, indonesia regards itself as only a transit country will. refugees cannot permanently resettle. so for these were hunger, the danger is over for now, but the uncertainty remains as to what the future holds. jessica washington al jazeera to carter 8 is being sent from thailand to people forced from their homes

by fighting and me and more as after violence near the border east in the past couple of days. but i think car and fight is in miramar say they'll only negotiate . he seeks by if all government troops leave the area. tony chang reports from a border of thailand, me and mark bags of rice and beans, loaded up from a warehouse in the title of mess up. emergency aid desperately needed by people who fled from fighting inside mamma. the relief package has been put together by local businessmen who come from mamma that live here in thailand. they're doing it because no one else will. this is say, your name, our job. and we're, we're just like a small groups and we're grass root. we have not many capacity of like funding we're you know, the gathering these kind of aids. but operating in me is complicated. first volunteers have to negotiate with tie, border guards who helpful,

but whose 1st priority is security. then a call to a local contact on the other bank in men. ma, well, they're coming across the river now to get the supplies and there are boxes, events, the little some water and so with more than 10000 people displaced inside mamma. this is only a very temporary fix. on the high side, everyone retreats behind to take the barrier and not to cope at 19 protocols. the swim is then load the precious cargo on to make shift rough. the waters shallow. so ferrying it across the river isn't hard. that they can't afford to lose anything. looks of relief on the opposite bank and not just because of the food. fighting between government troops and the ethnic current fighters has eased over the last 2 days. and the time military say that confident army will step back eventually. good guys, a little all this time we've always received good cooperation when it comes to asking them to stop so that there won't be any threat to the safety of ties and

their property. the current fighters on so sure they've been in conflict with me amazon me for decades and as little trumps, i know we don't trust the cease fire. they've been destroying villages killing villages and leaving on the ashes. so how can you trust them or not? how can you have a cease fire? all of that bad news for more than 5000 refugees on the high side. then now assembled in one camp. the title stores his are installing infrastructure, suggesting an extended stay. that could mean it will be weeks if not months before they can cross these hills and return home. tony chang al jazeera, on the time, ma'am ma border. a mare and colorado says he saw houses exploding before his eyes as the us state battle. some of the most destructive wildfires on record, hundreds of homes have been destroyed, present, joe biden has cleared the way for a major disaster to be declared. 2 towns near denver, a hut,

a tit where the situation has been described as by threatening lord burton. many reports, this is the moment a huge fire came rolling down the foothills of boulder, county and colorado. the false moving blaze engulfed hundreds of homes. local say they haven't experienced anything like it's you know, this is the 1st time i've really been involved in anything like this and i'll tell you it is really scary. ditches and things in the trees. oh, they're all up and flames. like there's embers everywhere. so it makes me very frightened, of course, with the wind that it's gonna continue to spread to other homes. strong winds, and dry conditions of fueling the flames. official say some of the fire to spot by falling power lines, which it knighted prairie grosses. estates were merchant proofs being declared and tens of thousands of people evacuated from the towns of superior and louis phil. many getting stuck in traffic jams as they tried to escape. gusts of

a 100110 miles an hour can and have moved this fire down a football field in a matter of seconds. very little time to get out very little time to even get the most important parts of your life. we currently have thousands of individuals in the search off part of our county and in the areas of superior in lewisville who have been evacuated. we know that there are structures, both homes and businesses that have been burned and loss speaking, but hundreds of structures in boulder, county, tens of thousands of people have been left in the dark with power lines down or destroyed. patients in critical care of being moved out of hospitals because of the threat from smoke winds, a gradually weakening, giving fire fighters some respite. but the billowing smoke could be a bigger hazard. as it travels across colorado. laura about manly al jazeera,

the death toll from the devastating super ty phone to hit the philippines before christmas has risen to 405 typhoon ride was the strongest head, the country this year. let a trail of destruction in central and southern provinces and caused flash floods and landslides. 82 people are still reported missing. i was the well, the pairs for the new year ahead. let's take a look back at some of the bigger stories. al, is there a covered in 2021? let's walk down pennsylvania avenue. ah, the u. s. capital building under c cannot. however, tara, from our responsibility to validate with joseph robinson by your new songs where notions of what just is not guilty, is always just me. i'm on democratically elected leadership

retained as the military stage to cruise. the general thought of a bit bloodless qu, they couldn't have been more wrong. the taliban has taken over the final departure of the u. s. military up to 20 years. i believe this is the right to switch a violent day over dangerous days still ahead. nowhere in gaza feel safe flight, i'll just 0 will not be silenced. didn't about him is ripping around the world. you see that right?

and that by the tragedy of the lack of political will selfishness and music from us . the new all the cone very and to spread it. 2022 must be the year we end the funding code. read at a much road. no planet. there is no sign of blah, blah, blah, blah, blah blah blah. i'm deeply sorry. ah the philippine government thus called the fight against that security rebels. unofficial faxed to them general have a say they don't want committed to duluth

. there was always liked only we're brave enough to see it only were brave enough. ah ah! you're watching out there at these, the top stories, the wild song bidding farewell to 2021. in the shadow of the pandemic. the surging on the con variant sydney was one of the 1st to greet the new year. the spectacle included a thank you to trump on work is health officials in britain, a warning people against traveling to england from scotland and wales for new year events due to the high number of cases u. k prime minister bras johnson has called on those celebrate.