15 Photos of New York City During Coronavirus, From Empty Times Square to a Deserted Subway
As of Monday, April 6, there have been 72,181 reported cases of COVID-19 in New York City—the highest number of any city in the U.S. State officials have put many restrictions in place to try to curb the spread of the virus, including closing down most non-essential businesses and fining people $1,000 for not social distancing. The city also welcomed a Navy hospital ship on March 30, and has set up a makeshift hospitals in Central Park and the Javits Convention Center.
Needless to say, New York is looking very different right now. From deserted streets and landmarks to little to no ridership on subways, here are 15 photos of New York City that capture what life looks like right now.
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GettyThe Brooklyn Bridge
Like most photos of New York City right now, this shot shows a famous landmark with a fraction of its usual crowds. New York Governor Cuomo has extended the state's stay-at-home order until at least April 15.
GettyGrand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal was mostly empty in the early afternoon hours on April 2. The station typically receives 750,000 visitors every day, making it the second-most visited landmark in New York after Times Square.
GettyEmpire State Building
The Empire State Building was lit in red and white to honor healthcare workers in New York City on April 1. The Empire State Building's observatories are currently closed to visitors.
GettyBroadway
The Lion King (which is performed at pictured theater) is just one of the Broadway shows that closed its doors due to the city's lockdown. However, some of Broadway's glitz and glamour can still be experienced from home: With a membership or a free seven-day trial, you can stream musicals like Kinky Boots, Cats, and Miss Saigon on Broadway HD.
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GettyTimes Square
A pedestrian crosses a nearly empty street in Times Square—New York's most-visited tourist attraction—on Wednesday, April 1. To see the weirdly quiet site for yourself, check out these livestreams. (Don't worry, the Naked Cowboy is still there.)
GettyOculus
A pedestrian walks past the Oculus in the Financial District on Monday, March 30. The World Trade Center's transit hub typically gets up to 120 million visitors every year.
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GettyCity Hall
A commuter wearing a protective masks sits inside a train at the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall subway station on April 1. This particular stop saw an average of 30,932 weekly riders in 2018, making it the 32nd busiest station out of 472.
GettyEmpty Subway
Yet another empty New York subway car is seen on March 23. According to New York Magazine, ridership is now lower than it was during the opening weekend of the subway system back in 1904.
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GettyPark Avenue
A portion of Park Avenue (between 28th and 34th Street) has been closed to motorists to promote social distancing. The closure is part of a pilot program that blocks cars on one street in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan during the weekends.
GettyAstoria, Queens
Numerous small businesses have closed along 30th Avenue in Astoria, Queens (pictured). To find out how you can support New York's local business during the lockdown, check out our guide.
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GettyThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
A man jogs past the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which closed in mid-March and doesn't expect to open again until July. For art lovers stuck at home, America’s largest museum has 360-degree virtual tours of some its most iconic spaces, including the Egyptian Temple of Dendur and the Arms and Armor gallery.
GettyUSNS Comfort
A Coast Guard helicopter flies over the USNS Comfort hospital ship as it arrives to New York on March 30. The ship's 1,000 beds and 12 operation rooms were intended to take non-COVID patients to ease the pressure on New York hospitals. However, the ship only welcomed 20 patients after a week of operation, leading Governor Andrew Cuomo to suggest opening the makeshift hospital to coronavirus patients as well.
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GettyBrookfield Place
A man walks through a deserted Brookfield Place mall in lower Manhattan on March 29. According to the Brookfield Place website, “[All] common areas of the complex are temporarily closed except to serve as thoroughfares to and from offices for essential operations.”
GettyBloomingdale's
Empty streets and sidewalks are seen in front of the Bloomingdale's on Third Avenue on Monday, March 30. Almost all of New York's flagship department stores (including Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus) have closed their doors.
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GettyYankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was empty on March 26, the scheduled date for MLB Opening Day. The league will only start their season when (or if) the ban on mass gatherings is lifted, there are no travel restrictions within the U.S., and it is medically safe for staff and fans.