COVID-19 spread forces people to rethink New Year's Eve plans

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- While some feel safe and comfortable to move ahead with New Year's Eve celebrations, others are having to rethink them because of COVID-19.

At Hayat Pharmacy, a long line of cars highlighted the demand for COVID-19 testing coming out of Christmas and ahead of the new year.

"It's crazy," Juan Sotelo said about the line. Sotelo said he was in close contact to some family members who tested positive for the virus. That pushed him to get a test and alter his New Year's Eve plans.

"We had [plans]," Sotelo said. "But it all depends on the results, I don't think that we're going to get them any time soon so I think that we're going to stay home."

Starting Jan. 1, Hayat will be offering testing 24 hours a day at its testing location.

At Red Arrow Park, people took time to ice skate on the rink ahead of other plans in the evening.

Dustin Vrab said he was going to have a small gathering of friends to celebrate the new year and that COVID-19 was not going to change those plans because of protections from vaccines.

"All of our friends are vaccinated and we're not doing any big gatherings," Vrab said. "All very small, so we're pretty confident that it's not going to alter anything."