New York City is proceeding with its annual New Year's Eve Times Square Ball Drop, but with a smaller crowd

Deadline

Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio said today that the number of people attending the annual event will be limited to 15,000, down from the usual 58,000, due to the spike in COVID cases as a result of the Omicron variant. No visitor will be admitted until 3 p.m. ET, which is much later than past years. Also, attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination while being masked.