US begins celebrations despite Omicron 'blizzard' which saw 587,143 cases over ...

Thousands of revelers in Las Vegas welcomed in 2022 with fireworks as the West Coast rang in the new year with somber celebrations amid surging COVID cases.   

Strong winds, predicted to gust up to 45 mph, almost put a damper on New Year's Eve celebrations in Las Vegas, where the famed fireworks show on the Strip was nearly canceled.

But the eight-minute, choreographed pyrotechnic display went on as the clock struck midnight as winds died down.  

The celebrations continued in Vegas even after officials reported 3,363 new cases on Friday. 

The spike broke the Southern Nevada Health District’s previous record for the most cases reported in a single day, AP reported. 

Celebrations in Los Angeles were subdued after the county recorded more than 27,000 new cases on the final day of 2021. 

The annual New Year's Eve celebration at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles was reduced to a no-live-audience even due to the COVID-19 surge. 

In another big New Year's Eve event on the Santa Monica Pier, revelers were forced to enjoy the fireworks display from the nearby beaches or online. 

In San Francisco, the fireworks display was cancelled for a second year in a row due to COVID-19, leaving residents of the Bay Area to search for different ways to celebrate.   

But on the East Coast, New Yorkers welcomed 2022 by watching the famous ball drop in Times Square and sent off Mayor Bill de Blasio, who danced with his wife in his final act as leader of the city, after the countdown.

The traditional refrain of Frank Sinatra's 'New York, New York' serenaded a crowd limited to just 15,000 in the Crossroads of the World as fireworks exploded and the confetti fell. 

De Blasio's term ended at the stroke of midnight, and his successor Eric Adams was sworn in, holding aloft a framed photo of his mother.

Adams was flanked by his son Jordan, who held a family Bible, and his partner Tracey. 

The unpopular outgoing mayor was seen waltzing with his wife Chirlane McCray wearing a face mask, in accordance with his own rule, but many in the crowd ignored his mask mandate. 

The crowds gathered to watch the famous ball drop, and move forward into 2022 - despite the surge in Omicron cases, and concern from health experts.  

New York on New Year's Eve saw a record of 76,555 COVID cases.

Despite the rising cases, partygoers huddled amid the neon lights in the balmy weather, wearing funky hats, bead necklaces and 2022 glasses.

The city has limited the number of people it lets into Times Square to witness the .  

The popular 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2022' entertained the crowd, featuring some live and taped performances from past New Year's Eves, including the rock band Journey taking the stage before the six-ton ball, encrusted with nearly 2,700 Waterford crystals, made its descent.    

Officials said those attending the spectacle would have to wear masks and show proof of vaccination over caution of the widespread infections.

Rap artist and actor LL Cool J was supposed to be among the performers taking the stage in Times Square, but pulled out of the event because he had tested positive for COVID. 

Performers taking the stage included headliner KT Tunstall, a duet between Ja Rule and Ashanti, a collection of songs by Journey as well as performances by artists such as Chloe and KAROL G.   

COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have soared to their highest levels on record at over 265,000 per day on average. 

New York City itself reported a record number of new, confirmed cases — nearly 44,000 — on Wednesday and a similar number Thursday, according to New York state figures.

Other major US cities including Boston, Las Vegas, Nashville and Philadelphia were also seen ringing in the new year with large crowds seen celebrating.

This comes after the nation smashed a global infection record on Thursday as 647,067 new cases were reported.

The New Year's celebration comes after last year's celebration had been closed to the public because of the pandemic.   

'We are very excited to welcome back visitors to Times Square this New Year's Eve,' said Tom Harris, the president of the Times Square Alliance. 

'Our goal is to have a safe and responsible event for the world to see.'   

Officials with the NYPD are continuing to enforce public health safety for the event due to the rising number of cases in the city.  

Authorities will check to ensure attendees are adhering to COVID guidelines by wearing masks as well as checking their vaccination status upon arrival.  

These new security measures have been formed to protect the health of those in attendance as compared to past New Year's events.

However, officers will continue to track and monitor potential terrorist as well as other security threats if necessary. 

But 2022 begins just as the year prior began — with the pandemic clouding an already uncertain future.

Doubts swirled about whether the city would have to cancel this year's bash, as the city posted record numbers of COVID cases in the days leading to it, even as some cities like Atlanta had decided to cancel their own celebrations.