Lunar New Year dampened by COVID-19 pandemic

A worker disinfects Yuyuan, or Yu Garden, near an ox installation set up ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year festivity, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai, China on Jan. 27, 2021.

Travel curbs have been reignited in China ahead of the celebrations, dealing a great blow to domestic tourism.

A woman waits in the departure hall of Beijing South Railway station ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations in Beijing, China, Feb. 10, 2021.

People wearing face masks following the coronavirus disease outbreak are seen at a market selling Spring Festival ornaments ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year festivity, in Beijing, China on Jan. 27, 2021.

Security guards wearing face masks carry a giant balloon in the shape of a fish ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year festivity at Yu Garden in Shanghai, China on Jan. 29, 2021.

A man wearing a protective face mask washes a religious statue ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at a temple in Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 4, 2021.

A member of Kun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Dance Association, demonstrates a dance with an ox mask designed for Lunar New Year at a training center, during an interview with Reuters, in Muar, Malaysia on Feb. 5, 2021.

Women wearing protective face masks wipe religious figurines ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at a temple in Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 4, 2021.

A family poses for a selfie while wearing their face masks during the annual Dahlia Dreams floral display ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Ox, otherwise known as the Spring Festival, at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay, Jan. 31, 2021.

A worker wearing protective gear following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak sanitizes an entrance of a railway station as the Spring Festival travel season begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Beijing, China on Jan. 28, 2021.

A man releases carps to Hoan Kiem lake on Kitchen God's Day as part of the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrations, the biggest festival of the year in Hanoi, Vietnam on Feb. 4, 2021.

Visitors wearing face masks take pictures during the annual Dahlia Dreams floral display ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Ox, at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay, Jan. 31, 2021.

A woman wearing a protective mask walks past Lunar New Year decoration at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Feb. 10, 2021.

People shop while wearing a protective mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday in Taipei, Taiwan, Feb. 10, 2021.

People wearing face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease look at a man making figures using traditional sugar-blowing techniques near Qianmen street ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations, in Beijing, China on Feb. 10, 2021.

Incense sticks are prepared at a home-industry factory, ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 10, 2021.

A cat is seen among incense sticks drying at a home-industry factory in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 10, 2021.

People pray at a temple ahead of the Lunar New Year celebration in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 10, 2021.

A woman wearing a face mask looks on ahead of the Lunar New Year celebration at the Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 10, 2021.