Virus fears trigger more holiday cancellations, restrictions

BOSTON (AP) — The nation’s second-largest city has called off its New Year’s Eve celebration, and its smallest state re-imposed an indoor mask mandate. The moves happened Monday (Dec. 20, 2021) as fears of a potentially devastating winter COVID-19 surge triggered more cancellations and restrictions ahead of the holidays. Organizers of the New Year’s Eve party planned for downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Park say there won’t be an in-person audience. The event will be livestreamed instead, as it was last year. In Rhode Island, a mask mandate went into effect for indoor venues that can hold 250 people or more.