Health and Healthcare Systems

Coronavirus: These images show some of the world’s most famous landmarks – deserted

An empty St. Peter's Square is seen as Pope Francis holds his weekly general audience virtually, as part of measures to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the Vatican, March 18, 2020 Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly

St. Peters Square in Vatican City is normally teeming with thousands of people. Image: REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Darren Thackeray
Senior Writer, Forum Agenda
  • Tourist hotspots around the world are deserted due to COVID-19, with several major cities under lockdown.
  • In cities not under lockdown, social distancing measures are being heavily encouraged.
  • Governments are advising against all non-essential domestic travel, with the US and Europe enforcing strict international travel bans.

Have you ever tried to capture that perfect photograph of Rome’s Trevi Fountain, only to be thwarted by bustling crowds? Well, if you were to go there today, you’d be able to take as many perfect pictures as you like without anyone wandering into the frame.

As governments urge citizens to practise social distancing and self-isolation, streets, restaurants and landmarks across the globe are now eerily empty. Travel bans are in force, with many countries taking drastic measures to delay the spread of COVID-19.

From the Sydney Opera House to the Grand Canal of Venice, here’s what some of the world’s most famous sites look like during the pandemic.

Venice: Grand Canal

Grand Canal is virtually deserted after a decree orders for the whole of Italy to be on lockdown in an unprecedented clampdown aimed at beating the coronavirus, in Venice, Italy, March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
Grand Canal is virtually deserted. Image: REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

Usually one of the busiest places in an already bustling city, the Grand Canal is now deserted after Italy announced a nationwide lockdown to combat coronavirus.

Rome: Trevi Fountain

An empty Di Trevi fountain is seen as the Italian government continues restrictive movement measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak, in Rome, Italy March 14, 2020. REUTERS/Alberto Lingria - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
An empty Trevi fountain. Image: REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

Save for the occasional patrolling police officer, Rome’s Trevi Fountain is completely deserted. On a typical day, it would usually attract around 1,200 visitors per hour.

Paris: Trocadero Square, near the Eiffel Tower

A view shows the empty Tocadero square near the Eiffel tower in Paris as a lockdown imposed to slow the rate of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) contagion started at midday in France, France, March 17, 2020.  REUTERS/Christian Hartmann - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
A view shows the empty Tocadero square near the Eiffel tower in Paris. Image: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

Trocadero Square near the Eiffel Tower is usually one the busiest places in France’s capital. Now it stands completely empty due an enforced coronavirus lockdown.

Sydney: Opera House

The mostly deserted steps of the Sydney Opera House, where scheduled public performances have been cancelled due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), are seen on a quiet morning in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2020.  REUTERS/Loren Elliott - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
The empty steps of the Sydney Opera House. Image: REUTERS/Loren Elliott

The steps of the Sydney Opera House, where scheduled performances have been cancelled due to coronavirus, are now completely empty.

Nepal: Mount Everest

Mount Everest, the world highest peak, and other peaks of the Himalayan range are seen through an aircraft window during a mountain flight from Kathmandu, Nepal January 15, 2020. REUTERS/Monika Deupala - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
Climbs up Mount Everest have been suspended. Image: REUTERS/Monika Deupala

The impact of coronavirus even extends to the highest place on Earth. Nepal's government announced that it would cancel all climbing permits from 14 March until 30 April.

Paris: The Louvre

A view shows the deserted area in front of the glass Pyramid of the Louvre museum in Paris as a lockdown is imposed to slow the rate of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in France, March 18, 2020.  REUTERS/Christian Hartmann - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
The glass Pyramid of the Louvre museum is completely deserted. Image: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

There’s also a clear view of the famous glass pyramid that sits in front of the Louvre thanks to the new coronavirus lockdown. This image was taken on 18 March.

Rome: Spanish Steps

A man walks past the deserted Rome's Spanish Steps, on the fourth day of an unprecedented lockdown across of all Italy imposed to slow the outbreak of coronavirus, in Rome, Italy, March 13, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
A man walks past Rome's empty Spanish Steps. Image: REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

A man walks past Rome’s famous spanish steps on the fourth day of an unprecedented lockdown in Italy.

Milan: Duomo Square

A view of the Duomo square on the second day of an unprecedented lockdown across all of the country, imposed to slow the outbreak of coronavirus, in Milan, Italy March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
A view of the Duomo square during lockdown. Image: REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

A rare shot of Duomo Square in Milan. Usually swarming with tourists and commuters, it’s now a quiet rest spot for birds.

London: Westminster Bridge

General view of a empty Westminster Bridge as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, in London, Britain, March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay - Coronavirus china virus health healthcare who world health organization disease deaths pandemic epidemic worries concerns Health virus contagious contagion viruses diseases disease lab laboratory doctor health dr nurse medical medicine drugs vaccines vaccinations inoculations technology testing test medicinal biotechnology biotech biology chemistry physics microscope research influenza flu cold common cold bug risk symptomes respiratory china iran italy europe asia america south america north washing hands wash hands coughs sneezes spread spreading precaution precautions health warning covid 19 cov SARS 2019ncov wuhan sarscow wuhanpneumonia  pneumonia outbreak patients unhealthy fatality mortality elderly old elder age serious death deathly deadly
General view of a empty Westminster Bridge. Image: REUTERS/Hannah McKay

It’s unusual to see London's Westminster Bridge so quiet. The UK government announced social distancing measures on 16 March, advising people to work from home where possible and avoid unnecessary travel.

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