<strong>New York: </strong>Eleven days after the WHO declared a pandemic and Covid began to spread across the US, New York State issued a "pause" executive order. Here's NYC's Times Square ahead of shortly prior to the shutdown.
New York: Eleven days after the WHO declared a pandemic and Covid began to spread across the US, New York State issued a "pause" executive order. Here's NYC's Times Square ahead of shortly prior to the shutdown.
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<strong>Stranded at sea: </strong>The cruise industry was particularly badly hit during the early days of the pandemics ships struggled to contain outbreaks and were sometimes left stranded, struggling to find a port willing to let them berth.
Stranded at sea: The cruise industry was particularly badly hit during the early days of the pandemics ships struggled to contain outbreaks and were sometimes left stranded, struggling to find a port willing to let them berth.
ROY ISSA/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Venice, Italy: </strong>Prior to Covid, Venice was making headlines because of overcrowding as legions of tourists put a strain on its ancient streets and waterways. By March 18 of 2020, it was a ghost town.
Venice, Italy: Prior to Covid, Venice was making headlines because of overcrowding as legions of tourists put a strain on its ancient streets and waterways. By March 18 of 2020, it was a ghost town.
ANDREA PATTARO/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Milan, Italy: </strong>Italy was one of the virus's first major European hotspots, prompting the country to impose a strict lockdown that shut down all but a few essential services.
Milan, Italy: Italy was one of the virus's first major European hotspots, prompting the country to impose a strict lockdown that shut down all but a few essential services.
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<strong>London: </strong>The UK called for a halt to travel and nonessential contact on March 16. A week later it imposed a nationwide lockdown with orders for everyone to stay home.
London: The UK called for a halt to travel and nonessential contact on March 16. A week later it imposed a nationwide lockdown with orders for everyone to stay home.
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<strong>Hong Kong: </strong>A normally bustling Asian travel hub, Hong Kong's airport was mostly deserted in March as traffic dried up. By this point, the city had already dealt with its first wave of Covid and was being hailed for its expedience in limiting its spread. But two years on, the territory is still behind a firewall of quarantines and struggling with infections.
Hong Kong: A normally bustling Asian travel hub, Hong Kong's airport was mostly deserted in March as traffic dried up. By this point, the city had already dealt with its first wave of Covid and was being hailed for its expedience in limiting its spread. But two years on, the territory is still behind a firewall of quarantines and struggling with infections.
ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Rio de Janeiro:</strong> Sundays would normally be a busy day on the beaches of Rio, but as the region's state government imposed restrictions that halted or limited public transport, March 22 saw a largely deserted sea front.
Rio de Janeiro: Sundays would normally be a busy day on the beaches of Rio, but as the region's state government imposed restrictions that halted or limited public transport, March 22 saw a largely deserted sea front.
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<strong>Buenos Aires: </strong>Empty places were seen elsewhere in South America. This image shows the main concourse at one of the seven stations in the Argentine capital.
Buenos Aires: Empty places were seen elsewhere in South America. This image shows the main concourse at one of the seven stations in the Argentine capital.
Federico Rotter/NurPhoto/Getty Images
<strong>Tel Aviv: </strong>Israel has in some ways been ahead of other countries in introducing lockdowns and finding ways to safely reopen. By March 10, Ben Gurion International airport in Tel Aviv was largely empty as the country's 14-day quarantine policy was already in place.
Tel Aviv: Israel has in some ways been ahead of other countries in introducing lockdowns and finding ways to safely reopen. By March 10, Ben Gurion International airport in Tel Aviv was largely empty as the country's 14-day quarantine policy was already in place.
Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg/Getty Images
<strong>Cape Town, South Africa:</strong> South Africa confirmed the arrival of the coronavirus on March 5, but 10 days later the country declared a state of disaster, imposing travel restrictions and closing schools. Full lockdown came on March 27.
Cape Town, South Africa: South Africa confirmed the arrival of the coronavirus on March 5, but 10 days later the country declared a state of disaster, imposing travel restrictions and closing schools. Full lockdown came on March 27.
Nardus Engelbrecht/Gallo Images/Getty Images
<strong>Grounded airplanes: </strong>As countries closed their borders and travelers were ordered to stay at home, airlines had no choice but to cut air routes leading to a large portion of the world's airplane fleet to be grounded and, in some cases, placed in storage.
Grounded airplanes: As countries closed their borders and travelers were ordered to stay at home, airlines had no choice but to cut air routes leading to a large portion of the world's airplane fleet to be grounded and, in some cases, placed in storage.
MARTIN SYLVEST/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Mumbai, India: </strong>The normally bustling streets of India's financial hub Mumbai fell silent after the country entered its first lockdown on March 25.
Mumbai, India: The normally bustling streets of India's financial hub Mumbai fell silent after the country entered its first lockdown on March 25.
Ashish Vaishnav/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
<strong>Sydney: </strong>By the end of March, Australians had been ordered to stay home except for essential food shopping, work or exercise, and limit meetings to just two people. After Australian borders were effectively sealed, the country endured nearly two years of international isolation.
Sydney: By the end of March, Australians had been ordered to stay home except for essential food shopping, work or exercise, and limit meetings to just two people. After Australian borders were effectively sealed, the country endured nearly two years of international isolation.
James D. Morgan/Getty Images
<strong>Kuala Lumpur: </strong>Among the first countries to experience Covid outbreaks, Malaysia was also plunged into lockdown beginning March 18 and lasting until May.T he country's Movement Control Order also required some neighborhoods to be disinfected.
Kuala Lumpur: Among the first countries to experience Covid outbreaks, Malaysia was also plunged into lockdown beginning March 18 and lasting until May.T he country's Movement Control Order also required some neighborhoods to be disinfected.
MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Bangok: </strong>Although Thailand saw its first cases in January 2020, it didn't impose a lockdown until late March.
Bangok: Although Thailand saw its first cases in January 2020, it didn't impose a lockdown until late March.
Prawet Puengsawangphol/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
<strong>Dubai: </strong>The empty Sheikh Zayed street in Dubai is pictured on March 27, 2020. As many countries locked down, Dubai resorted to limited restrictions on specific areas or venues to contain the spread of the virus.
Dubai: The empty Sheikh Zayed street in Dubai is pictured on March 27, 2020. As many countries locked down, Dubai resorted to limited restrictions on specific areas or venues to contain the spread of the virus.
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