Rio's Copacabana Beach near empty at New Year

Brazil ushered in 2021 in a sombre mood Thursday, with the usually raucous Copacabana Beach, typically the site of vast firework displays and filled with thousands of celebrants empty, closed to the public because of COVID-19 restrictions.

The Christ the Redeemer statue took centre stage instead, lit up with a new year message.

However, the theme was "Year of Covid", a sobering reminder to the country of the difficulties spanning the year.

"The perspective (for 2021) is the vaccine. It's what everyone wants, the vaccine, so we can live as we've always had" said Leonel Keslley, as he walked past an empty Copacabana beach with his family.

Darkened streets, empty bars and restaurants marked the end of a difficult year for the country, which as of this week has registered 192,681 deaths, according to the country's Ministry of Health.