Before and after: Stunning photos from around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic
Before and after: Stunning photos from around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 changed not only the world's health landscape, but its visual landscape.
Lockdowns were announced. Destinations from beaches to town squares emptied. Freeways became barren. Conference centers and stadiums became field hospitals and food banks.
On the bright side, pollution and traffic congestion diminished.
Words and statistics can only do so much justice to the staggering fault lines between then and now. Stacker dug through image databases to tell the visually stunning before-and-after story of the world in 2020.
Looking at major cities and the most populous destinations—from Tokyo to New York City—the following is a dramatic illustration of COVID-19’s impact.
Before: Jingshan Park, Beijing, China
Beijing’s Jingshan Park overlooks the Forbidden City on Feb. 17, 2018.
After: Jingshan Park, Beijing, China
Messages are left prior to the Lunar New Year on Jan. 25, 2020, two days after the location emptied out as a result of the Wuhan lockdown.
Before: San Marco Square, Venice, Italy
Activity in San Marco Square during Carnival festivities on Feb. 16, 2020.
After: San Marco Square, Venice, Italy
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced a national emergency on March 9, by which time the same square is empty.
Before: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan, Italy
Popular shopping and tourist destination Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is pictured here on May 3, 2016.
After: Vittorio Emanuele II Galleria, Milan, Italy
The Galleria is deserted on March 10 after national restrictions to control the deadly coronavirus.
Before: Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy
The famed tourist attraction is pictured on May 4, 2019.
After: Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy
The same steps, now deserted on March 12.
Before: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles’ 110 Freeway on Feb. 2, 2019.
After: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is shut down on March 15; the empty 110 is pictured here.
Before: Millenium Park, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago’s "Cloud Gate" in Millennium Park is seen here on March 13, the same day COVID-19 was declared a national emergency.
After: Millenium Park, Chicago, Illinois
Cloud Gate on March 21, when a stay-at-home order went into effect.
Before: La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona’s famous basilica La Sagrada Familia in October 2015.
After: La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
The Spanish government declared a 15-day state of emergency on March 17, as cases surpassed 10,000.
Before: Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro's iconic Ipanema Beach in November 2015.
After: Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ipanema Beach after the lockdown on March 21, 2020, as Brazil’s cases approached 1,000.
Before: Grand Central Terminal, New York City
The Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal in New York City in September 2017.
After: Grand Central Terminal, New York City
The same concourse is nearly empty on March 22, 2020.
Before: Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu is one of the largest in the world—pictured here on April 4, 2015.
After: Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
Boudhanath on March 26, 2020, the third day of a nationwide lockdown.
Before: Sadarghat, Dhaka, Bangladesh
The busy Sadarghat Port in Bangladesh’s capital city on April 13, 2019.
After: Sadarghat, Dhaka, Bangladesh
The Sadarghat launch terminal is quiet by the third day of the shutdown on March 27.
Before: Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Shibuya crossing in Tokyo on March 5, 2017.
After: Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
The crossing on March 28, 2020, amidst stay-at-home weekend orders.
Before: Javits Center, New York City
The annual Toy Fair at the Javits Center on Feb. 24, 2020, missing the China Pavilion as output in the world’s largest toymaker country slowed markedly.
After: Javits Center, New York City
On March 30, the Army Corps of Engineers established a temporary 1,000-bed field hospital in the Javits Center.
Before: Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany
Bubbles in the air at the Brandenburg Gate on April 8, 2019.
After: Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany
The iconic Brandenburg Gate on March 31, 2020.
Before: Revolution Monument, Mexico City
The Revolution Monument in Mexico City on April 6, 2017.
After: Revolution Monument, Mexico City
The monument on April 1, 2020, after nonessential activities were halted.
Before: Piccadilly Circus, London, England
Pedestrians in London’s Piccadilly Circus in October 2017.
After: Piccadilly Circus, London, England
Piccadilly Circus on April 9, 2020, as Britain’s cases eclipsed 60,000.
Before: Holy Week in Seville, Spain
Pictured on April 19, 2019, Semana Santa or ”Holy Week” brings over 1 million people to Seville the week before Easter.
After: Holy Week in Seville, Spain
A woman walks with her dog in front of Basilica de la Macarena on April 9, 2020.
Before: United Center, Chicago
The Chicago Blackhawks score in Game 2 of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 3.
After: United Center, Chicago
On April 17, 2020, the United Center floor holds nonperishable food for those in need.
Before: India Gate Monument, New Delhi
Smog engulfs New Delhi’s India Gate monument on Nov. 2, 2019, in New Delhi.
After: India Gate Monument, New Delhi
By April 20, 2020, air pollution minimized and blue skies emerged.
Before: Rue de la Loi, Brussels, Belgium
Traffic during rush hour near the European council buildings on March 2, 2020.
After: Rue de la Loi, Brussels, Belgium
On April 22, Rue de la Loi is empty as cases surpassed 40,000 in Belgium.
Before: Great Mosque of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Muslim worshippers gather around Islam's holiest shrine, the Kaaba, at the Great Mosque of Mecca during Ramadan on May 31, 2019.
After Great Mosque of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The Great Mosque is deserted at the beginning of Ramadan on April 24, 2020.
Before: Paris, France
The Esplanade du Trocadero by the Eiffel Tower on May 9, 2017.
After: Paris, France
A woman in a face mask on May 11, 2020, when France began easing coronavirus precautions.
Before: City Hall in San Francisco, California
The City Hall complex in San Francisco on May 15, 2013.
After: City Hall in San Francisco, California
On May 18, 2020, San Francisco opened its first temporary sanctioned tent encampment with a safe sleeping area and marked spots for social distancing.
Before: Mykonos windmills, Greece
Tourists at the Mykonos windmills on May 3, 2019.
After: Mykonos windmills, Greece
On May 25, 2020, Mykonos’ Little Venice neighborhood in Mykonos is sanitized as the country plans to ease travel restrictions.
Before: Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul's famous bustling Grand Bazaar—pictured here on May 30, 2018— is the world’s largest covered market.
After: Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
The Grand Bazaar, closed on March 23, 2020, is pictured here on May 30, 2020, as it prepares to reopen June 1.
