The omicron variant has been spreading rapidly throughout the United States. In fact, there have been so many cases that airline crews have had to call out sick, leading to hundreds of canceled holiday flights, according to CNBC.

You should skip New Year’s Eve parties this year because of the omicron wave, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

When you are talking about a New Year’s Eve party, where you have 30, 40, 50 people celebrating, you do not know the status of the vaccination — I would recommend strongly stay away from that this year,” Fauci said during an appearance on CNN’s New Day Monday, December 27.
According to NBC News New York, the city will cap the crowd allowed to stand for hours in the freezing cold just to watch a ball slowly drop at midnight at around 15,000, which is one-fourth the usual amount. Attendees will also reportedly have to show proof of vaccination and a photo ID.

While we’re at it, I say we cancel New Year’s Eve as a party holiday forever. It’s never as fun as you want it to be, someone always gets too drunk, and you’ll be finding glitter around the house for the next six months. Take it from someone who has been canceling New Year’s Eve plans for decades, there’s nothing like celebrating the end of one horrible year on your couch — no mask necessary.