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A lone taxi cab drives over a typically gridlocked highway with the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, seen in the skyline behind it in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A lone taxi cab drives over a typically gridlocked highway with the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, seen in the skyline behind it in Dubai, United Arab Emirates -  Copyright  Jon Gambrell/AP Photo
Copyright Jon Gambrell/AP Photo
Copyright Jon Gambrell/AP Photo

In pictures: Deserted cities as anti-coronavirus lockdowns introduced around the globe

By Natalia Liubchenkova
Published on •Updated
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Photographs of popular tourist destinations, business hubs and lively neighbourhoods changing as a result of restrictive coronavirus measures being introduced.

Many cities and towns around the globe are looking completely deserted, as governments introduce tougher measures in a bid to contain the spread of deadly coronavirus COVID-19.

Tourist destinations and business hubs that used to be packed with people are now quieter than anyone could have imagined, locals say.

People have been requested to self-isolate, while various travel bans have been put in place. Bars, restaurants and entertainment centres have all been ordered to close.

Scroll down for photographs showing world cities changing as a result of the anti-coronavirus restriction measures being introduced.

APU GOMES/AFP
The 110 Freeeway is nearly empy in downtown Los Angeles, California. - Bars, restaurants and nightclubs in Los Angeles were ordered to close from midnight on Sunday, 15 March. APU GOMES/AFP

Petr David Josek/AP Photo
A woman walks across the near empty Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic Petr David Josek/AP Photo

Mulugeta Ayene/AP Photo
The view over Bole Medhane Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Mulugeta Ayene/AP Photo

SAUL LOEB/ AFP
The US Capitol in Washington DC, USA. SAUL LOEB/ AFP

MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP
A woman walks across the deserted Vittorio Emanuele II galleria shopping mall in Milan, Italy MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP

JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
Gran Via looks empty in Madrid after regional authorities introduced tougher measures in order to slow the coronavirus spread JAVIER SORIANO / AFP

Ludovic Marin/ AFP
An empty area in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, as a strict lockdown comes into in effect in France to stop the spread of COVID-19 Ludovic Marin/ AFP

JOEL SAGET/ AFP
A Parisian street leading to the Madeleine Church appears empty as a strict lockdown comes into in effect in France to stop the spread of COVID-19. JOEL SAGET/ AFP

PETER PARKS/ AFP
A few tourists walk along Circular Quay in Sydney after Australia moved to seal off its borders the day before. PETER PARKS/ AFP PETER PARKS

AIZAR RALDES/AFP
View of the empty Plaza de Armas as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, in La Paz, Bolivia AIZAR RALDES/AFP

JAVIER TORRES / AFP
Aerial view of an empty road at the Paso Internacional Los Libertadores in the Andes, Chile. JAVIER TORRES / AFP

Bob Edme/AP Photo
A view of the almost empty beach in Saint Jean de Luz, southwestern France. Bob Edme/AP Photo

Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP
A man wearing a protection mask walks by the Spanish Steps at a deserted Piazza di Spagna in central Rome Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Darko Bandic/AP Photo
This aerial photo shows a square and restaurants in the medieval old town of Dubrovnik, Croatia, which would normally be full of tourists and residents Darko Bandic/AP Photo

STR/ AFP
An escalator in the empty Wuhan Tianhe airport in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province. STR/ AFP

Tolga AKMEN/ AFP
A rare pedestrians walk through Trafalgar Square in central London. Britain ramped up its response to the escalating coronavirus outbreak. Tolga AKMEN/ AFP

Johannes EISELE/ AFP
A woman wearing a mask crosses the street in Times Square in Manhattan. Johannes EISELE/ AFP

Andrew Harnik/AP Photo
With the Washington Monument in the background, people run by cherry blossoms at the almost empty Tidal Basin bank, in Washington, USA Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo
The usually bustling state Capitol rotunda is empty in Sacramento, California, USA Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo
A reporter gets ready to broadcast at a near-empty Santa Monica Pier after a temporary closure as part of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus in Los Angeles, USA. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo Marcio Jose Sanchez

Chris O'Meara/AP Photo
Empty beach chairs on North Beach in Clearwater Beach, Florida, USA. Beach goers are keeping a safe distance to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Chris O'Meara/AP Photo

Jeff Roberson/AP Photo
A pedestrian crosses a nearly empty Kiener Plaza Park, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA Jeff Roberson/AP Photo

RODRIGO BUENDIA/ AFP
Aerial view of the empty financial center in Quito, Ecuador after the government announced state of emergency as a measure to fight the spread of Coronavirus. RODRIGO BUENDIA/ AFP

Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo
An armored vehicle guards an intersection on Abancay avenue, after the government implemented restrictions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Lima, Peru Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo

Charles Krupa/ AP Photo
Two women walk with bags of groceries down a nearly empty Broadway on St. Patrick’s Day in the South Boston neighborhood of Boston, USA. Charles Krupa/ AP Photo

Laurent Cipriani/AP Photo
Empty streets and bridges are seen in the centre of Lyon, France. Laurent Cipriani/AP Photo

Aaron Favila/AP Photo
A motorcycle passes by almost empty street as the enhanced community quarantine is enforced to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in downtown Manila, Philippines Aaron Favila/AP Photo

Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva / AFP
An aerial picture shows the courtyard of Jätkäsaari primary school, that remains empty as all public schools are closed to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva / AFP

Hussein Malla/ AP Photo
A street is empty after most of the shops and restaurants closed as part of the preventive measures against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Beirut, Lebanon Hussein Malla/ AP Photo
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