TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The annual Lunar New Year market on Taipei’s Dihua Street opened Saturday (Jan. 15), with only pedestrians allowed on weekend afternoons and no free food sampling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Until Jan. 30, the second day of the official Lunar New Year holiday, cars and scooters will be barred from entering the street in the capital’s historic heart from noon until 10 p.m. on weekends, CNA reported.

The city has added more decorations than ever before to make up for restrictions imposed amid concerns over COVID’s Omicron variant. As was the case last year, sampling the street’s trademark snacks and dried foods will not be allowed, and outside merchants will not set up additional stalls or tents to promote their wares.

As a result, the extra space will make shopping more convenient and comfortable, organizers said, adding there would be more activities to attract the public. Visitors will still be asked to respect basic COVID prevention measures, such as social distancing and mask wearing.