New York City police turned to familiar tactics ahead of Thursday’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, deploying bomb-sniffing dogs and sand-filled sanitation trucks intended to guard against explosions.

This New Year’s Eve is being celebrated like no other, with pandemic restrictions limiting crowds in many places. From New York’s Times Square to Sydney Harbour, big public blowouts are being turned into TV-only shows and digital events.

Countries around the world are preparing for muted New Year’s Eve celebrations as a result of coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Australia will be among the first nations to ring in 2021 because of its proximity to the International Date Line.