There has been some debate about the response of the UK government during the coronavirus London outbreak, but the time has come: coronavirus empties London’s streets.
Although other countries have more severe lockdowns in place, Londoners are finally starting to desert the streets. The Underground Tube timetables have been cut, train schedules scaled back and shops closed. Although supermarket shelves have been emptying, people have still been venturing out to the pubs and bars.
Overnight though, the mood seems to have changed, as the government contemplate a more serious lock down. As the coronavirus empties London’s streets, here are some photos and videos from England’s capital…
Coronavirus Empties London’s Streets: Photos And Videos
Main streets across the capital and transport routes are eerily quiet…
https://twitter.com/awkobell/status/1240807227818156032
Bars, pubs and restaurants are feeling the pain of social distancing, but it’s a necessary measure…
Late-Night Run through West London never felt so surreal- near-empty streets, Pubs, Bars & Restaurants, normally rammed on a Thurs night- whilst distancing needs to be done to slow/stop virus, tough for them in an already-challenging time esp. with no Live Sports too #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/9yr1qaFpn5
— Richard-Lee Read (@OMGitsRLR) March 19, 2020
Roads are clear, with little foot traffic.
Empty London pic.twitter.com/oMdZ4RBIrm
— Dillan (@dillanman123) March 19, 2020
So, I ventured out into London on your behalf. I can walk to the City from home in half an hour or so. Here's my report… pic.twitter.com/IQcs4hWhny
— Martin Geddes (@martingeddes) March 19, 2020
And while major transport hubs are near-empty, some Londoners are reporting of still-packed Tubes
City dwellers are calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to encore an official city shutdown. With over 9 million people, communication on lockdown measures is confusing at best.
London Waterloo was pretty quiet this evening. #covid19UK pic.twitter.com/14SVgvkUXe
— Henry Jones (@hthjones) March 19, 2020
This was my commute to work in London this morning @BorisJohnson. This is what you get on London underground when you reduce the service but people still have to go to work. There was a lot of coughing too.
How do we stay safe in this environment?#CoronaVirusUpdate pic.twitter.com/wT345MEjND
— David Riley (@DRileyamusing) March 20, 2020
Lived in London for 20 years and have never seen it looking this quiet, except on Christmas Day morning. https://t.co/hy5QolJfKI
— Iain Thomson (@iainthomson) March 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/Cerithg/status/1240608643130720257
It begins… TFL says tube to be partially shut
– From Friday Waterloo & City line shuts
– 40 tube stations with no interchange closed “until further notice”
– No overnight tube Fri/Sat
– Reduced services so London’s critical workers can move about https://t.co/7ciAjgxnH5 pic.twitter.com/GxbcNJBXxL— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) March 18, 2020
There’s currently 1,221 coronavirus cases in London, and figures show that around 4 in 10 coronavirus-related deaths in the UK so far have been in the capital.
It remains to be seen what measures the weekend will bring, but the city is emptying out – fast – as people stay at home to self isolate. A coronavirus London clear out has begun.
In case you were wondering…
This was London zone one, St Paul's tube station and Cheapside this morning.#covid19UK #workingfromhome #StayHome #londonunderground #londonlockdown pic.twitter.com/spfKYxB8w6
— BuyDSellS (@buyDsellS) March 18, 2020
