The COVID-19 virus originated in Wuhan, China. It first started becoming noticed in December 2019, and since then, this global pandemic has shifted the way the world works. As more and more countries are now under quarantine, people throughout the globe are ordered to stay at home to self-isolate.
The world has changed in unimaginable ways and it's visible everywhere; from the smallest village in Asia to some of the biggest metropoles on Earth. The changes are so majestic that they can even be noticed by a satellite! We’ve scouted around and located some of the most prominent and noticeable changes that’ll leave everyone shocked.
Los Angeles - Best Air Quality Since The '90s
The biggest city in California and home to over four million people, is now seeing drastic changes in its air quality ever since the Stay-At-Home order of April 6. The city of Los Angeles is the home to the entire Hollywood industry and one of the highest-valued real estate markets in the States.
Since the shops, beaches, and all public places closed due to the outbreak, the city’s been experiencing something unimaginable. It’s been having the longest duration of good air quality since at least, the mid-90s! Given that California’s one of North America’s most polluted states, we can’t help but wonder what will happen once the lockdown is over.
Venice - Clearest Waters In Decades
Italy was sadly the first European hotspot of the virus. With an economy based largely on its tourism, the consequences of the lockdown will be severe, however, we can’t say the same about its eco-system. Venice is one of the grandest examples. Just by looking at the before and after photos of its waters, the differences are clear.
Though water bodies, in general, take a lot of time to have significant improvements in their pollution rate, it’s already become apparent how human activity affects them. All the gondolas and cruise ships are docked, and the water in Venice’s canals are clearer than ever before.
The Temple of Heaven - Fewer Visitors Than Ever Before
Most of China’s great historical landmarks had to be closed down due to the coronavirus outbreak. Even though the Temple of Heaven wasn’t one of them, the difference was immediately visible. The temple has been standing in the center of Beijing since the 15th century. It's surrounded by approximately 660 acres of parkland.
The lucky people that got to visit it during the outbreak, witnessed something incredible. Without the crowds blocking the views, anyone who dared to visit could have the temple all to themselves. Meanwhile, China’s expected to face a gigantic loss of income due to the restrictions within 2020.
The Great Wall of China - Closed, Reopened & Empty
At least until 2019, The Great Wall of China was welcoming almost 10 million people to its grounds every year. It was one of the first tourist attractions to be closed with the outbreak and has only recently been partially reopened to the public. Although the restrictions eventually became lighter, things will take much time before going back to normal
Ever since parts of this ancient wall were again accessible to the public, visitors were still asked to keep a safe distance from each other. The Wall has probably never been left so unattended in centuries. After all, parts of it have been standing there since the seventh century BC.
Shanghai Disneyland - Hundreds Of Millions Of Income Lost
Shanghai Disneyland first opened its doors in 2016. It didn’t take long for it to become one of Shanghai’s highest-earning tourist attractions. In fact, in a normal year, it had more than 11 million visitors from around the world! Understandably, it was one of the first places to close with the outbreak.
Eventually, some of the shops and restaurants inside Disneyland were reopened. They still had to operate under extreme safety rules and protocols. All in all, it’s expected to suffer a loss of income equal to $135 million by the time its visiting rates get back to normal.
Macau - Gigantic Loss Of Revenue
Although case-wise Macau has been doing great during the outbreak, it has still suffered an 80% loss of revenue. Macau has been characterized by many as the Vegas of China. It’s China’s gambling capital, and although its casinos only closed down for a couple of weeks, the economical losses are too great to not be mentioned.
Overall, the city of Macau has had less than 100 cases of confirmed cases so far, and zero fatalities. Barring most visitors from entering played a big part in that. Its casinos might be open, but its hotels are being used to quarantine travelers rather than accommodating tourists.
The Ratchada Train Night Market - Many Shops Closed Down
One of the most popular destinations in Bangkok is the Ratchada Train Night Market. It’s always booming with people and crowds who are there to shop and taste the local cuisine. Even though Thailand has been doing reasonable well amidst the crisis, with just over 2,600 confirmed cases and 1,590 recoveries so far, we can’t say the same about its famous market.
The truth is that not only have people lost their jobs there, but most markets have been forced to shut down. The electricity bills alone were enough of a reason for the shop owners to decide to close, as the traffic has become noticeably less.
The Literature Temple - Closed Down And Sterilised
During the outbreak, one of the Asian countries that have been less affected is Vietnam. So far there have been less than 300 cases throughout its borders and zero deaths! One of the many actions that the Vietnamese government has taken, was to close one of its most touristy sites.
The Temple of Literature has been standing in Hanoi for almost a thousand years. Though it only closed officially on March 10, the number of visitors had already dropped drastically by then. Everyone was, of course, keeping a safe distance and wearing face masks. The site’s now been sterilized from top to bottom.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - Closed For The First Time
Yet another place that the Vietnamese Government had to shut down, is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It started being constructed some years after Ho Chi Minh’s death and was finalized by 1975. Since then, it has been attracting tourists from all over Vietnam, and abroad to its grounds.
Fearing that it would cause the virus to further spread, the site was shut down in mid-March 2020, at least until the spread is detained. It is the first time this site closed and as imaginable, the surrounding tourist accommodations are also suffering a great loss.
South Korea - Re-elected Old Government After Being Praised For Actions Taken
Even though South Korea has way more confirmed cases than Vietnam, its Government has been praised for the course of action it took to prevent the spread. As of recently, there have been more than 10,000 confirmed cases with over 7,700 recoveries and less than 300 deaths.
On April 15th, 2020, they went through with the scheduled elections. The people of South Korea were so pleased with the measures taken, that they wound up voting for the Democratic party once again. Only this time, it had the biggest majority since the country’s transition to democracy in the late '80s.
Tokyo - Otherwise Busy Streets Are Now Empty
In the first week of April, Japan declared a state of national emergency. Its numbers of confirmed cases had more than doubled within a week, and there’s no city in which the change is more visible other than its capital, Tokyo. Knowing that Tokyo’s one of the most populous cities in the world, measures needed to be taken.
A simple glimpse at any of Tokyo’s previously crowded streets makes the pandemic’s effect visible. As Japan’s cases keep on rising, Tokyo’s solely responsible for more than 3,000 of them! Not only did tourism become affected by the outbreak, but the entire country’s economy as well.
The Eiffel Tower - Displays Positive Messages For All Carers
Seven million people every year travel all the way from their hometowns to Paris to visit the Eiffel Tower. Ever since it was constructed in the 19th century, it has attracted people from around the globe. During the outbreak, however, much like the rest of Paris, it gates its doors to the public.
Encouraging messages filled with gratitude have since been displayed on the tower, to lift spirits. Paris is no longer a place or romance and art, as its more like a ghost town. The French government eventually even forbade daytime outdoor exercise in Paris. So far, they’ve reached 17,000 deaths and counting.
Times Square - Empty For The First Time
New York City has been rightfully dubbed to be the city where dreams are made. However, when the coronavirus struck America, it was also, unfortunately, the largest hotspot in the States. The complete shut down of the city has now been expanded at least until May the 15th and the change could not have been more visible than on Times Square.
Its located right in the city’s center and is home to many bars, restaurants. and Broadway productions, all of which have been shut down. All food-related shops are only open for takeaway and delivery, whereas the otherwise busy streets are left filled with pigeons instead of humans.
The Kaaba - Partially Open For The Tawaf Ritual Yet Still Empty
Saudi Arabia might not have yet been hit as hard by the virus as other countries, but the changes are still visible in one of Saudi Arabia’s busiest places, the Kaaba. It’s located inside Islam’s most sacred site, the Great Mosque of Mecca. All Muslims are expected to visit there at least once in their lifetime.
So far, Saudi Arabia has had more than 6,300 confirmed cases, with at least 150 of them belonging to their Royal Family. Although the mosque briefly shut down, it recently got partially reopened. Only this time, the only people allowed inside would be ones that seek to perform the tawaf ritual.
Tiananmen Gate - Three Minutes Of Silence For All COVID-19 Victims
One of China’s most important monuments is in the heart of Beijing. Every other day, hundreds of people walk past it, but now, amidst the outbreak, it looks emptier than a ghost town. The Tiananmen Gate and Square became symbols of the Chinese revolution in 1989 when the military seized fire against the protesters.
Today, some people dared to gather in the square once again, only this time, to pay tribute to all of the coronavirus victims. They stood, wearing protective masks and gloves, honoring everyone with three minutes of silence. On a happier note, at least China’s carbon emissions have dropped drastically when compared to this time last year!
The London Eye - The Wheel Is Closed & The Queue Is Empty
It stands 443 feet tall. The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe! Every year more than 3.5 million people across the planet to go visit it and enjoy the views, since it was first opened to the public in March 2000.
Two decades later, the wheel closed for an unknown amount of time, due to this outbreak. Without a doubt, England’s been hit by the virus, with more than 76,300 cases and more than 11,600 casualties so far. It might be a first, but instead of having hundreds of people lining up to ride, the queue is now empty.
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim - Closed For The 4th Time In History
The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, is the most visited resort that belongs to Disney right now, even beating the one in Paris! Every year, it creates memories to last a lifetime to more than 15 million people. Unfortunately, it was also one of the first resorts to close its doors in California during the outbreak.
It’s not the first time it closes though, as it has three times in the past. However, there’s no doubt that this will be the longest closure ever. We’ve already partially gone through the effect that the virus has had in California. So far there have been more than 37,000 COVID-19-related deaths.
The Old City of Erbil - Empty For The First Time In Millennia
Much like the previously seen Times Square, the squares and streets of Erbil’s Old City are left with just the pigeons. Given the current situation in the Kurdistan Region, not as many tourists get to visit there each year, but still, a few hundred-thousand make their way there annually to witness its beauty.
The Old Town is listed on the World’s Heritage List, as the first signs of civilization date as far back as 2,300BC! Today, even though Iraq and Kurdistan Region haven’t been hit as hard as other countries in Asia, there are at least 1,400 cases reported, and absolutely no one walking on the streets.
The Woodlands Causeway - Open Only To Cargo Cars
For almost a century now, the Johor-Singapore Causeway has been uniting Malaysia and Singapore and facilitating travelers moving from the one to the other. The Causeway remained open to the public until the very last minute possible. As of March 18, however, it’s now only open to cargo cars, moving food and supplies.
Both countries have officially surpassed the 5,000 confirmed cases mark. Both, have also shut their borders down since mid-March 2020. The Causeway, which every other day has more than 100,000 vehicles passing by, now seems like a scene out of a post-apocalyptic movie made in Hollywood.
El Prado Museum - Closed Doors Until Further Notice
Among the sites closed down for health reasons across the globe, is also one of the world’s most-visited museums, the El Padro Museum in Madrid. Spain by now has surpassed China’s death toll and has become one of Europe’s largest hotspots with almost 20,000 deceased.
Every year around two million people visit the museum and its unique artifacts. In it, one can see first-hand original paintings made by artists like El Greco and Goya. As Spain’s cases keep multiplying though, no one’s going to be seeing the artwork for the time being.
Cairo University - Closed For Up To A Year
In early February 2020, around 155,000 students of Cairo University were left with their studies paused at least until April of the same year. It’s highly unlikely that the university will reopen within the first estimate, as the situation in Cairo and Egypt, in general, has nothing but worsened since.
Some people say that the universities might not reopen for the coming year. As people are now looking for alternative ways to finish their studies, Egypt has surpassed 2,600 confirmed cases. Although, people are fearing that these estimates are far off due to the lack of available testing, much like in many other regions in Africa.
Puente Nuevo - Left Deserted
As Spain remains under a national state of alert for at least until April the 25th, all of its unique sites remain closed. The Puente Nuevo is one of Spain’s most photogenic places. It took more than three decades to build back in the 18th century. It has been uniting the cities of Guadelevín and Ronda ever since.
Thousands of visitors go there annually to get a glimpse of one of the prettiest and scariest bridges ever constructed. During the Civil War, the bridge was used as a prison and torture chambers. People won’t be going back there any time soon though, as Andalucía has now surpassed 10,000 cases.
Charles Bridge - The Emptiest It's Been In 6 Centuries
The Czech Republic hosts approximately 20 million tourists every year. It’s safe to say that a great percentage of them also visit one of Prague’s masterpieces, the Charles Bridge. The bridge started being constructed in the middle of the 14th century and was only finished at the beginning of the 15th.
Today, as the Czech Republic had scheduled a repairing program set to last two decades, the plans had to be delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Overall, the country’s had almost 6,500 cases so far. As they are gradually just starting to lift the safety measures, the bridge remains emptier than ever before.
Nabi Younus Market - All Shops Closed
We’ve already gone through how Iraq’s been affected by the virus. The city of Mosul, however, is at great risk right now, given how much it was already suffering. The citizens of Mosul have lived through a war, poverty, and now a global pandemic. When the virus hit the headlines in Iraq, the situation changed drastically within days.
These two pictures were reportedly taken within a week of each other. The Nabi Younus Market in Mosul is one of the most frequently visited places in the entire city. Eventually, as the people stopped gathering there, the shops closed, and it is now left deserted.
Amman Citadel - In State Of Emergency
Despite the so-far-low number of cases in Jordan, the government announced a state of emergency on March 19. Just two days later, they imposed a curfew. As a result, Jordan’s most ancient and most visited monument is now empty, probably for the first time in millennia.
The Amman Citadel in Jordan has been standing since the Bronze Age according to studies. Meanwhile, the region has been occupied since the Neolithic period. Today, the entire area resembles a ghost town, and the only signs of life are the animals left behind.
The Holy Shi'ite City of Najaf - The Schools & Shrines Are Ordered To Close
Najaf is one of Shi’ite Islam’s holiest cities. It was also one of the first within Iraq to have confirmed cases of the virus. Najaf’s confirmed cases have now surpassed 250, meanwhile, there have also been at least five related fatalities. The doctors and medics now fight to slow the spread.
Meanwhile, the people that live in Najaf are doing their best and are trying to stay at home. There are many reasons which we’ve partially already explained, for which Iraqi people are particularly in danger right now. The Shrines and schools were ordered to be closed in February 2020.
Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf - Resisting To Shut Down Yet Still Empty
As the outbreak started in quite the aggressive way in Najaf, extreme measures had to be taken to slow its spread. These pictures were taken within a year of each other, and as we can see, the people that are now paying tribute are increasingly fewer.
Every year millions of people visit the Imam Ali Mosque to pay tribute to Imam Ali, as his tomb lays there. The Iranian Government did try to order people not to attend their holy Mosques but found some resistance. All in all, the Imam Ali Mosque was still shockingly empty.
Dubai Mall - Partially Closed And Completely Empty
Given that the Dubai Mall is one of the world’s largest and most visited places, it’s rare enough to see it being crowded. After all, it has more than 5,400,000 square feet of interior space! Despite its gigantic stature, the United Arab Emirates’ authorities did shut it down, along with all other malls for two weeks.
They made an exception for all the supermarkets and pharmacies inside the malls, so despite the closing order, people still visited. No matter what, the change is extremely noticeable. Meanwhile, All of the U.A.E.’s schools are to remain closed until the end of the academic year.
Milan's Piazza del Duomo - No Person In Sight
Italy was the first COVID-19 hotspot outside of mainland China. As more cases get confirmed every day, the Italian government is doing its utmost to better the situation. An entire country is locked inside their houses. The results of the pandemic could not have been more visible than they are in one of Italy’s most important squares.
The Piazza del Duomo in Milan was constructed in the fourteenth century. Its most distinguished building is no other than the Duomo di Milano, the Cathedral. On any other day, one wouldn’t have enough room to walk, let alone sit there. Nowadays, however, it’s only visited by our flying friends, the pigeons.
The Louvre Museum - Doors Closed And Tickets Refunded
France is sadly no stranger to the virus’s fatalities. One of the first measures that the government took in order to prevent its spread was to shut down all public gatherings of more than 100 people. Of course, the world's most-visited museum was one of the first ones to close its doors to the public.
The Louvre Museum has always had people queuing up to see some of its most unique artifacts. For now, no queues are being made, and all previously purchased tickets are refunded. More than nine million people visit the Louvre annually and more than 100,000 people have now been confirmed to be infected within France.