The world welcomes 2022 with muted celebrations as COVID-19 cases surge

Though attendance was limited due to the coronavirus pandemic, New York City rang in the new year with the iconic Times Square ball drop. Watch the city celebrate the final moments of 2021.

In 2021, an angry mob stormed the U.S. Capitol to try to stop Congress from formally certifying the presidential election results. Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States, and Kamala Harris made history — and that was all just in January. Watch CBS News' Natalie Brand review the major political developments of the year. 

More people in the U.S. died of COVID-19 in 2021 than in 2020, driven in part by highly contagious variants. Vaccines became available, but hesitancy remained. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced in June in the death of George Floyd, and the nation once against reeled from mass shootings. Watch CBS News' Michael George review the biggest national news stories of the year.

People from across the globe have gathered in New York City's Times Square to ring in the New Year. The Omicron variant has caused the city to scale back the celebrations, but those gathered for the ball drop are hoping for better times in 2022. Watch CBS News' Courtney Kealy's report here.

In a televised address to the nation that appeared on ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" on Friday night, President Biden and first lady Jill Biden offered a message of hope. 

Mr. Biden said "there's no quit in America," adding that "the virus has been tough, but we've been tougher." The president also said he's "more optimistic about America's future than I've ever been." 

The pre-taped message also featured an appearance by the Bidens' new dog, Commander. 

The U.K. reported nearly 190,000 new COVID infections on New Year's Eve, a new record for the nation, according to government data. There have been more than 1 million reported cases in the last seven days, a nearly 50% increase from the previous week. 

In his New Year's Eve message, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged eligible adults to get vaccinated and take precautions if celebrating the holiday. 

"I must of course urge everyone to be cautious and to take a test if you are going out and to remember the importance of ventilation," he said. 

President Biden praised Americans for their resilience after another year of fighting COVID in a New Year's Eve message to the nation. 

The president released a short video on Twitter, saying there is "nothing ordinary" about Americans who have overcome so much loss and hardship since the pandemic began. 

"We often hear people described as 'ordinary Americans.' There's nothing ordinary about them. After losing loved ones, jobs and facing uncertainty, we're persevering. We're recovering. Back to work. Back to school. Back to joy. That's extraordinary. That's how we made it through this year and how we'll embrace the next — together," he said. 

"As we head into 2022, I want folks to remember: There's not a single thing America cannot do when we do it together," the tweet said. 

Many major European cities scaled back their planned celebrations due to a surge in cases. In Berlin, police urged people not to gather near the Brandenburg Gate, where a concert was staged without a live audience. In Madrid, authorities allowed only 7,000 people into the city's Puerta del Sol downtown square, a venue traditionally hosting some 20,000 revelers.

In Paris, officials canceled the fireworks amid surging infections and reintroduced mandatory mask-wearing outdoors, an obligation followed by the majority of people who milled about on the Champs-Elysées as the final hours of 2021 ticked away.

France's unprecedented 232,200 new cases Friday marked its third day running above the 200,000 mark. The U.K. was close behind, with 189,846 new cases, also a record. In London, officials said as many as 1 in 15 people were infected with the virus in the week before Christmas. Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the U.K. rose 68% in the last week, to the highest levels since February.

Yet boisterous New Year's Eve celebrations kicked off in the Serbian capital of Belgrade where, unlike elsewhere in Europe, mass gatherings were allowed despite fears of the Omicron variant. One medical expert predicted that Serbia will see thousands of new COVID-19 infections after the holidays.

—CBS/AP

New York City's health commissioner said he expects the surge in COVID cases will get worse in the coming weeks. 

"It's been a difficult few weeks and, unfortunately, we have a tough few weeks ahead of us as well," Dr. Dave Chokski told CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen. "We all have to dig deep muster our energy and will, and I have a deep conviction and a belief that we will get through this."

Arnel Margen, who was visiting from California, said he planned to celebrate the holiday despite the surge. 

"We just take a bit more risk and go out of our way and try to celebrate it," he said. 

As some cities scrap their New Year's Eve plans, Las Vegas and Chicago are moving forward. 

"Since it's outdoors and we're spacing people out, we have some confidence" about mitigating the spread of the virus, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. 

Meanwhile, CBS Chicago reported that some restaurants in the city will be closed on New Year's Eve because of the surge in cases in the city and state. 

John Manion, owner and executive chef at El Che Steakhouse and Bar, told CBS Chicago that he believes he's likely lost $100,000 in revenue due to the recent COVID-19 spike. But he said he still won't be opening his restaurant for the holiday. 

"In my mind, I can't put anybody in that situation," Manion said.

Illinois reported more than 30,000 new cases on Thursday, according to CBS Chicago.   

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin mourned the dead, praised Russians for their strength in difficult times and soberly warned that the pandemic "isn't retreating yet." Russia's virus task force has reported 308,860 COVID-19 deaths but its state statistics agency says the death toll has been more than double that.

"I would like to express words of sincere support to all those who lost their dear ones," Putin said in a televised address broadcast just before midnight in each of Russia's 11 time zones.

Pope Francis canceled his New Year's Eve tradition of visiting the life-sized manger set up in St. Peter's Square, again to avoid a crowd. In an unusual move for Francis, the 85-year-old pontiff donned a surgical mask for a Vespers service of prayer and hymns Friday evening as he sat in an armchair. But he also delivered a homily standing and unmasked.

"A sense of being lost has grown in the world during the pandemic,'' Francis told the faithful in St. Peter's Basilica.

China, where the coronavirus first emerged in late 2019, was on high alert and canceled formal New Year celebrations. As CBS News correspondent Ian Lee reported, 13 million people in the city of Xi'an saw in 2022 under strict lockdown, as the country deals with its latest outbreak of COVID-19.

—CBS/AP

Australia went ahead with its celebrations despite an explosion in virus cases. The centerpiece of festivities was the renowned fireworks display from the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The show went on, lasting about seven minutes, but access to downtown Sydney was restricted to those with bookings at restaurants and hotels in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Hours before the celebrations were due to begin, Australian health authorities reported a record 32,000 new virus cases, many of them in Sydney. Because of the surge, authorities expected far smaller crowds than in pre-pandemic years, when as many as 1 million revelers would crowd inner Sydney.

—CBS/AP