San Francisco cancels New Year's Eve fireworks over COVID-19 pandemic

New Year’s Eve in San Francisco will be much quieter this year.

The city, citing a rise in coronavirus cases fueled by the omicron variant, has announced the cancellation of its annual fireworks show in order to "best protect San Franciscans and essential front-line workers." 

"While we are all understandably eager to ring in a new year with San Francisco’s customary New Year’s Eve fireworks show, we must remain vigilant in doing all we can to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant," Mayor London Breed said in a statement. "Thanks to our employee vaccine mandate, our public safety workers are well-protected against COVID, but they still must take all precautions to help limit the spread."

"By canceling the New Year’s Eve fireworks show we are reducing everyone’s exposure to COVID-19, while ensuring continuity of citywide public safety operations," she added.