What will Christmas look like around the world?
The virus that stole most of 2020 is now stealing Christmas, too.
Across Italy and beyond, many people were looking forward to Christmas with loved ones to soothe the heartache of a year of mourning. But with new lockdowns dashing those hopes, “home for the holidays” has taken on an ominous meaning: There is nowhere else to go.
In South Korea, which is facing its worst outbreak, the authorities are clamping down on gatherings of five or more people, from Christmas Eve until at least Jan. 3.
In the U.S., case numbers are about as bad as ever. The country is on pace to reach 325,000 deaths before Christmas. But it is no longer experiencing explosive spikes in infections, and many states are improving. Even with the promise of new federal aid, many jobless Americans are facing a holiday of tough choices, trying to celebrate while dealing with pressing financial needs.
Bright spots: In Australia, New South Wales eased restrictions to give people some sense of normalcy during the holiday.
The New York Times