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PHOTOS: Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatowns around the world

A worker puts a fortune slip inside a fortune cookie at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory ahead of Lunar New Year in the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. Also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is China's most important holiday, a period that's seen as celebrating values like unity and family ties. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

Despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the Chinese communities and revellers around the world poured into the streets of Chinatowns, to usher in the Chinese New Year of the Rat. In the photos below, many of the revellers don protective face masks and cast aside their nervousness as they posed for pictures.

See more photos of the celebrations in Chinatowns around the world.

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San Francisco’s Chinatown

Shoppers browse year of the rat decorations ahead of Lunar New Year in the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. Also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is China's most important holiday, a period that's seen as celebrating values like unity and family ties. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

New York’s Chinatown

CHINATOWN, MANHATTAN, NY, UNITED STATES - 2020/01/25: Chinese lions roaming the streets of Chinatown in NYC. Traditional lion dances, drumming and dancing kept unfriendly ghosts clear of Chinatown as they roam the streets to welcome the Year of the Rat and ward off evil spirits. 2020 marks the 21st year that this event has been held in New York City. (Photo by Erik McGregor). (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
CHINATOWN, MANHATTAN, NY, UNITED STATES - 2020/01/25: A masked dancer at the parade in Chinatown. Traditional lion dances, drumming and dancing kept unfriendly ghosts clear of Chinatown as they roam the streets to welcome the Year of the Rat and ward off evil spirits. 2020 marks the 21st year that this event has been held in New York City. (Photo by Erik McGregor). (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
CHINATOWN, MANHATTAN, NY, UNITED STATES - 2020/01/25: Chinese lion roaming the streets of Chinatown in NYC. Traditional lion dances, drumming and dancing kept unfriendly ghosts clear of Chinatown as they roam the streets to welcome the Year of the Rat and ward off evil spirits. 2020 marks the 21st year that this event has been held in New York City. (Photo by Erik McGregor). (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Singapore’s Chinatown

SINGAPORE - JANUARY 24:  Shoppers wear mask as they take photo with a lunar new year decoration at Chinatown  on January 24, 2020 in Singapore. Singapore confirmed another two cases of the Wuhan viruses today, making a total of three, as Singapore prepares to usher in the Year of the Rat, one of the most anticipated holidays on the Chinese calendar. Also known as the Spring festival or the Lunar New Year, the celebrations last for about 15 days.  (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

Bangkok’s Chinatown

Thousands of tourists and locals flocked on 25 January 2020 to Bangkok's historic Chinatown, known as Yaowarat, to take part in festivities marking the beginning of the Year of the Rat. Dragon dance processions, attendees in traditional dress, and other festivities were put on by local cultural organizations as part of the annual event. (Photo Adryel Talamantes/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2020/01/24: A woman lights incense during the celebration in Chinatown, Bangkok. The Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival in China marks the beginning of the Year of the Rat. The ethnic Chinese-Thai family pray for good fortune and wear masks for dust protection as the country struggles to contain worsening air pollution. (Photo by Patipat Janthong/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Yangon’s Chinatown

Yangon Regional Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein waves to the public during a ceremony to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown on January 25, 2020.    Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is most important festival for Chinese people.       (Photo by Shwe Paw Mya Tin/NurPhoto)
Yangon Regional Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein waves to the public during a ceremony to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown on January 25, 2020. (Photo by Shwe Paw Mya Tin/NurPhoto)
Children take a photograph wiht lion dancers during a ceremony to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown on January 25, 2020.    Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is most important festival for Chinese people.       (Photo by Shwe Paw Mya Tin/NurPhoto)
Children take a photograph wiht lion dancers during a ceremony to mark the first day of the Lunar New Year in Yangon's Chinatown on January 25, 2020. (Photo by Shwe Paw Mya Tin/NurPhoto)

Yokohama’s Chinatown

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - JANUARY 25: A lion dance is performed outside a store in Yokohama China Town on January 25, 2020 in Yokohama, Japan. Thousands of people gathered in the largest Chinese community in Japan to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rat. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - JANUARY 25: A lion dance is performed outside a store in Yokohama China Town on January 25, 2020 in Yokohama, Japan. Thousands of people gathered in the largest Chinese community in Japan to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rat. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - JANUARY 25: A lion dance is performed outside a restaurant in Yokohama China Town on January 25, 2020 in Yokohama, Japan. Thousands of people gathered in the largest Chinese community in Japan to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rat. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - JANUARY 25: A lion dance is performed outside a restaurant in Yokohama China Town on January 25, 2020 in Yokohama, Japan. Thousands of people gathered in the largest Chinese community in Japan to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rat. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - JANUARY 25: A lion dance is performed in Yokohama China Town on January 25, 2020 in Yokohama, Japan. Thousands of people gathered in the largest Chinese community in Japan to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rat. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - JANUARY 25: A lion dance is performed in Yokohama China Town on January 25, 2020 in Yokohama, Japan. Thousands of people gathered in the largest Chinese community in Japan to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rat. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

London Chinatown

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2020/01/23: Lanterns festooned across the streets as London's vibrant Chinatown district prepares for Chinese New Year celebrations. (Photo by Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2020/01/23: Lanterns festooned across the streets as London's vibrant Chinatown district prepares for Chinese New Year celebrations. (Photo by Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2020/01/23: A Pokemon Pikachu character stands at the entrance of Gerrard Street as London's vibrant Chinatown district prepares for Chinese New Year celebrations. (Photo by Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2020/01/23: A Pokemon Pikachu character stands at the entrance of Gerrard Street as London's vibrant Chinatown district prepares for Chinese New Year celebrations. (Photo by Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)