Some of London’s biggest tourist spots have been left empty, as grim aerials show creepy shots of Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus sparsely populated as the capital masteres the coronavirus pandemic.
Many of the museums in the capital have also decided to close their doors, and the Royal Albert Hall, Natural History Museum and V&A close until early summer, while the British Museum and Science Museum remain open for the time being.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson stressed last night that London was the worst-hit area of the UK, with most cases and deaths from the virus.
There are 1,543 confirmed cases across the UK, 407 in London. There have been 67 deaths in the country, more than ten of them in the capital.
Today, images of a mostly-blooming Piccadilly showed just a few pedestrians and several vehicles, a route usually packed with cars chirping their horns and tourists running around taking photos of the sites.
Theaters and museums in the capital are closed due to the outbreak with institutions such as the V&A and the Natural History Museum closing their doors for the foreseeable future.
Other aerial photos showed Trafalgar Square, many tourists usually come to the area for great views of central London and of course to visit the National Gallery, but today the area was almost empty.
It comes after the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan today warned that London’s tubes and trains will be able to run a ‘reduced’ service on weekdays starting this week.
He also tweeted today: “In line with the most recent medical advice, all events in Trafalgar Square will be canceled until further notice. We must take all necessary precautions to ensure the health of all people in London. ‘
Piccadilly Circus (pictured above) only had a few pedestrians this afternoon. The area is usually full of traffic and tourists
Trafalgar Square: an area popular with tourists for being the home of the National Gallery, also looked almost empty this afternoon
Oxford Street, one of the most popular areas in London for department stores such as Selfridges, was very quiet even today
Tower Hill, home to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, looked relatively empty today as people avoided major tourist attractions
Other shots showed the Tower Hill area, a huge tourist spot for many. Other areas such as Oxford Street and Covent Garden also remained empty.
The National Portrait Gallery in London will also close temporarily from March 18, it announced today. Group bosses said this was to “prevent the spread of Covid-19 and ensure the safety and well-being of visitors and staff.”
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and act on the advice of the UK government and UK public health. Meanwhile, we look forward to staying connected to our audience online and hope to welcome visitors back to the gallery soon. ‘
This while the Natural History Museum, the V&A, The Tate the Southbank Center and the Royal Albert Hall will also close.
The museums said they were ‘disappointed’ because they had to close, and while they didn’t give an exact opening date, they said it would probably be ‘early summer’.
As for public transportation, the Underground, Overground and Docklands Light Railway service could reduce journeys due to thousands of commuters working from home.
The mayor of London told Good Morning Britain that the downscaling could start as early as this week and will also impact TfL Rail.
In the plans, trips on weekdays would be reduced to the number that customers are used to on weekends.
Mr. Khan told the show, “What we can do over the next few days and weeks is to go to a Saturday shift on Saturday and maybe scale it up over the next few days and weeks.”
He also revealed that despite a request to attend government Cobra meetings in recent weeks to help the capital cope with the Covid-19 crisis, he was finally invited yesterday.
“I’ve been asking for weeks to attend the Cobra meetings,” he said. “Yesterday morning we first received a call from Downing Street inviting us to Cobra.
This morning Piccadilly Circus was very quiet, this photo was taken around 7:30 AM, a time when most people commute to work
A souvenir stall stands in the middle of a deserted area on Oxford Street as the number of people working and visiting the shopping area continues to decline
A street performer sings opera at empty tables in Covent Garden, the area is usually packed with tourists looking to experience London
“We have been told that London is a few weeks ahead of the rest of the country and that this virus is spreading faster than the government and ministers thought.”
Other plans that can be rolled out to help London cope with the coronavirus pandemic include subsidizing hotels to care for the homeless, he added.
“I raised this point yesterday regarding raw sleepers,” he said. “There is no reason to keep in mind that hotels and motels with record vacancies should not be used to help the homeless.”
He demanded more clarification from the government as to whether pubs should close or remain open.
The government is currently advising the public to stay away from bars, pubs and restaurants.
But Mr. Khan said that because the prime minister has not ordered companies to shut down, they cannot claim lost profits on insurance.
“One of the main concerns is the lack of clarity,” said Mr. Khan. “We have now taken bold action to add people’s health, we need bold action to help people’s livelihood.
“What I am told is that it is not a prohibition that they cannot demand insurance. Many of these companies rely on cash flow to pay wages – even a week-long closing period means they can’t afford wages. ‘
He added, “My concern about the lack of support for companies is that people can choose to work to keep food on the table instead of isolating themselves.”
London commuters have told how they are closing their workplaces and preparing to work from home while the Coronavirus pandemic is on its way.
Businessmen, accountants and engineers were among the few passengers who arrived at Waterloo station during rush hour.
London’s tubes and trains may already run a ‘reduced’ service on weekdays from this week, Mayor Sadiq Khan (right) warned today
A scanty carriage in an underground train in West London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theater
A scantily filled commuter train between London’s Maidenhead and Paddington Station, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theaters
They told how they would pick up laptops and attend meetings to coordinate working from home. While the main workers explained why they should come to the city.
56-year-old businessman Ivan Bell from Hastings told MailOnline, “I have a packaging design company and I come in to arrange how we work from home.
“I have offices in London, New York and San Francisco.
“We’ve already closed the California office, and today I’m closing the London and New York offices.”
North London accountant Sharon Da Costa, 50, told MailOnline, “Today is my last day. Half of the office already works from home and I just get everything I need so I can do the same. ‘
Public Relations officer Emma Smith added, “I’ve come to a meeting to find out how we’re going to work from home.”
Pictured: coaches in Manchester are nearly empty because people stay at home to avoid coronavirus
An empty King’s Cross tube station in London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theaters and work from home if possible
Pictured: King’s Cross station in central London, as the Prime Minister advises people to take social distance
Marketing manager Helen Jones, 51, from Staines, said, “This is my last day. I pick up my laptop so I can work from home.
“Some of us left the office to announce to the government that people were being urged to stay home last night.
Structural engineer Richard Whitehead, 48, from Fleet, Hants, said, “We are currently working, but I am sure everything will come to a halt soon.
“We already have conference calls so people can work from home.”
Public Health England 23-year-old Hannah Milbourn explained, ‘I can’t work from home. I am part of the team that organizes the response to the Coronavirus and provides guidance on how best to approach it. It.’
A university lecturer explained how he was obliged to work until the institution was closed.
He added, “As long as the students come, I’ll be working. From tomorrow we will put all teachers online. But if the students are there, I should be too. ‘
University Pay-roll manager Jenny Fitzgerald added, “I’m the person who makes sure everyone gets paid. So I have to come in. ‘
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