In Italy, divers ring in 2022 by marking traditional plunge into freezing Tiber River

As part of tritional dive to welcome new year 2022, four divers risked ir lives and jumped into Rome’s Tiber River on Saturday. Hundreds of spectators gared in Rome to witness men jumping off bridge into Tiber River, reported NHK WORLD - Japan. This year, event of tritional dive took place amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in country.

Divers express wish for pandemic to end before plunging into freezing Tiber River

divers welcomed 2022 with a tritional dive into Rome’s freezing Tiber River, however, y expressed ir hopes as y he into a fresh year before event. A 68-year old man who attended event for 34th year in a row shared his New Year’s wish, where he mentioned that he wanted  pandemic to end, so that life returns to rmalcy, reported NHK WORLD - Japan. He expressed hope that people would finally be able to hug and kiss ir loved ones soon. diving event is a New Year trition that dates back to 1946, according to AP. In 1946, a lifeguard who was unemployed and was trying to find work as a stunt man jumped into waters from Cavour Bridge to showcase his skills. Since n, it has become an annual event, where people gar to watch men jump off bridge into river.

COVID-19 situation in Italy

According to Worldometer, as of 2 January 2022, total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy is 6,266,939. number of people who have died due to COVID-19 is 137,513 and 5,107,729 people have recovered from virus. According to Italian Health Ministry, 88.99% of population above of 12 have been ministered at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 85.87% of population over of 12 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. According to Italian Health Ministry, 8.59% of children d between 5 to 11 years of have received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

With inputs from AP

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