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An empty street is seen in the usually crowded Main Town in Gdansk, during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Poland. Reuters
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The Ritz hotel in London. EPA
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A nearly empty Times Square is seen on March 23, 2020 in New York City. AFP
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A nearly empty Times Square is seen on March 23, 2020 in New York City. AFP
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Empty streets in Trafalgar Square as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London. Reuters
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View of the empty Sol square in Madrid, Spain as lockdown continues in the Spanish capital. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3BDWIIILAJUSWX7Y4DSX34ESCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f892799a0292cd091fbbb89d49a7dfcbc13432b289d51b47b48ac175dcbb461f&width=400&height=225)
The empty Neumarkt square in front of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) is seen during a partial lockdown in Dresden, Germany. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2GXJ6MEVCI5QHD6B56VKCOQ7EM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a41905340398b6eb1f5c6191c9f7e61c5985ff00e5307732f4b686a70de94f6a&width=400&height=225)
Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires after the Argentine government ordered a "preventive and mandatory" isolation, effective until the end of the month. AFP
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A view of an empty square in downtown Wroclaw, western Poland. EPA
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The empty street facing the Ponte Vecchio in Florence during a strict lockdown put in place by Italian government to fight against the spread of the COVID-19. AFP
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A man walks along the empty Champs-Elysees in Paris. AFP
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The empty Loge street in the city of Montpellier, southern France, on the seventh day of a lockdown. AFP
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A street stands empty in the Chinatown area of Melbourne, Australia. The Australian government said it will enforce more stringent controls to slow the virus spread, closing pubs, casinos, restaurants and other venues after the number of infections surged. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3T2LRPHOGXS7YNFLSGTD6QERDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bbcd7d5049642b22264942788d9a147203fb556c59feef296f7c10e7ec7e4538&width=400&height=225)
A man stands outside the Bondi Pavilion at a near-empty Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Bloomberg
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The empty "Place de la Comedie " in the city of Montpellier, southern France. AFP
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An empty street leading to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. AFP
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A florist stall at an empty London Bridge in London, Britain. EPA
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Pigeons gather outside the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador during the 40th anniversay of San Oscar Arnulfo Romero (1917-1980) assassination. AFP
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Empty streets and alleyways are seen around Chinatown at what would usually be a busy period of Friday night revelry in London, England. Getty Images
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An empty street is seen in the usually crowded Main Town in Gdansk, during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Poland. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RSELOLGZ2JP3IVILSVEDQEKZTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ca65f43d1f59f9d9002354d0e93bbcb9962e4ec4ef10e97e9b05166d98d848e&width=400&height=225)
The Ritz hotel in London. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FIFTAYIFKGYBJT3MNSKCZGMHRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=787e8836da86f0f06e64af3e0090a8e4f4c1271ff849aa10415758ac9552983d&width=400&height=225)
A nearly empty Times Square is seen on March 23, 2020 in New York City. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TIW6BLLHG2YAVKEWLLVGJB7MF4.jpg?smart=true&auth=3083eb6a5a661bec43a796eb23eca51b13d9036ffb21d6f9b4b66b4c309003a7&width=400&height=225)
A nearly empty Times Square is seen on March 23, 2020 in New York City. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7SLHFHSRY2MLXR7RTATOZ2BSO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=d66387d40e780f51ce0f0a91ae765366a01d92bbd05639510194da61fb5c6274&width=400&height=225)
Empty streets in Trafalgar Square as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MOS66DJEN3UCGRFV7Q45JDZP2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=05b9605295bc27ffe1caf3361a999b3dab6130b65a628450b3922ad35b32e410&width=400&height=225)
View of the empty Sol square in Madrid, Spain as lockdown continues in the Spanish capital. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3BDWIIILAJUSWX7Y4DSX34ESCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f892799a0292cd091fbbb89d49a7dfcbc13432b289d51b47b48ac175dcbb461f&width=400&height=225)
The empty Neumarkt square in front of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) is seen during a partial lockdown in Dresden, Germany. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2GXJ6MEVCI5QHD6B56VKCOQ7EM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a41905340398b6eb1f5c6191c9f7e61c5985ff00e5307732f4b686a70de94f6a&width=400&height=225)
Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires after the Argentine government ordered a "preventive and mandatory" isolation, effective until the end of the month. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BODCFX2ISMZQCHRLL5ALTDQ6BY.jpg?smart=true&auth=17493afd33d1357741acf0b576a41fe2a3e7b53ed7d996bc1aa449361c65409e&width=400&height=225)
A view of an empty square in downtown Wroclaw, western Poland. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VIWGKMPLSTXKT5GPS6QE3LAUHU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1e9da809554d2a0a4e996044dc2875afffd5bcce9ac1fa7f0024f776f6d5114&width=400&height=225)
The empty street facing the Ponte Vecchio in Florence during a strict lockdown put in place by Italian government to fight against the spread of the COVID-19. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JO6DNMBYLSJPQG3BN5VFTF7SA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c27fcba1873734502b872b0843fc2152a3838424a408f8d41db23156a50b4354&width=400&height=225)
A man walks along the empty Champs-Elysees in Paris. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KA365ZVFQ4MGZIZMPUF5UBJBN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=85c4fe7c911262bfdccffa545858b813303f634fb69407d012080e55c3ecc4cd&width=400&height=225)
The empty Loge street in the city of Montpellier, southern France, on the seventh day of a lockdown. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EZJYNIZEDTJUSS6K4ZHPBBSFYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=4be818cafd96006e3fa1562f9a350065e97b7f10a1eca53cfabb095c9c45c3d6&width=400&height=225)
A street stands empty in the Chinatown area of Melbourne, Australia. The Australian government said it will enforce more stringent controls to slow the virus spread, closing pubs, casinos, restaurants and other venues after the number of infections surged. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3T2LRPHOGXS7YNFLSGTD6QERDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bbcd7d5049642b22264942788d9a147203fb556c59feef296f7c10e7ec7e4538&width=400&height=225)
A man stands outside the Bondi Pavilion at a near-empty Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OICHZBCDHE2Y7OKKFH6CZKMADQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=81f57f75970510670654b11c131c4df8033491fbca359aaf0d6edffe3f0ae9cc&width=400&height=225)
The empty "Place de la Comedie " in the city of Montpellier, southern France. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZM54LJFLBEIEIEBNQ2UY44NV2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=2ebf06e60d34297309a0aa44581fab2708d9762fd678a12b8673482460231343&width=400&height=225)
An empty street leading to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RHRDWW5ALOXBOONQBJLT6JVLHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e7bd5fbd965b4c9b53f1d16f06dca05206fa78fd99bfd9e3d6ff7e2dc857c4f&width=400&height=225)
A florist stall at an empty London Bridge in London, Britain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WTWUUGPTGAZYFVRSKZHHKLIVB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb6f800229e3a4e56ddd1e3d015a33c158127e784519f875cbc7492cc6dbba8d&width=400&height=225)
Pigeons gather outside the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador during the 40th anniversay of San Oscar Arnulfo Romero (1917-1980) assassination. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y23CT3SQ6IET7MZKDPKL45BQ5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a2a1a553b43fd70fd98f2fd02d133994312e255fb3ec3f1ad230c54e0931cef&width=400&height=225)
Empty streets and alleyways are seen around Chinatown at what would usually be a busy period of Friday night revelry in London, England. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNPTWCXZP4OB532UEOL7MFSVL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a81c77a88a0a7dfc752a7308875838daed39f510a4a5973dda3d7dc683cf9cd&width=400&height=225)
An empty street is seen in the usually crowded Main Town in Gdansk, during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Poland. Reuters
Coronavirus UK: Londoners come to terms with government's lockdown measures
Empty streets in cities across UK as people stay home
Claire Corkery and Callum Paton
24 March, 2020
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