Photos show how coronavirus emptied streets and canceled traditional celebrations as the world rang in 2021

Confetti flies around the ball and countdown clock in Times Square during the virtual New Year's Eve event following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in New York City on January 1, 2021.REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

• Traditionally on New's Year Eve, people gather to watch fireworks and join festivities while commemorating the start of the new year.
• But this year, fear of spreading the coronavirus has encouraged leaders from around the world to limit celebrations.
• These photos show how the pandemic quieted New Year's Eve celebrations around the world.

Every year, New Year's Eve brings out masses into the streets. Worldwide, people gather to watch fireworks and festivities while commemorating the start of the new year.

But 2020 was different. Fear of spreading the coronavirus had encouraged leaders around the world to limit celebrations.

In countries like China, Germany, and Brazil, national fireworks displays and events were canceled. Lawmakers in the Middle East and Europe imposed curfews and lockdowns in an effort to limit crowds outside.

In other parts of the world, traditional events still went on as planned with scaled back attendance.

These photos show what was perhaps the quietest New Year's Eve celebration in recent history.