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Coronavirus: Photos show deserted lockdown locations at high noon

2 April 2020

A market near the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq.

Alaa al-Marjani / Reuters A man holds a pocket watch at noon, in front of an almost empty market near the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq — A market near the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq.

Reuters photographers have captured the silent streets and stations of the world amid the lockdown, with each photo taken at midday.

Transport hubs and high streets that were once some of the world's busiest places are shown nearly deserted amid the many lockdowns happening around the globe owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

All photos were taken at midday on 31 March and feature a wristwatch or clock showing the time.

Martyrs' Square in Beirut, Lebanon

Mohamed Azakir / Reuters A pocket watch seen in Martyrs' Square in Beirut, Lebanon — Martyrs' Square in Beirut, Lebanon

Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt.

Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters A wristwatch showing noon with Tahrir Square, Cairo, in the background — Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany.

Hannibal Hanschke / Reuters A digital clock on a smartphone is pictured in front of Brandenburg gate, Berlin, Germany. — Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany.

The Houses of Parliament on Westminster Bridge, London, UK.

Toby Melville / Reuters A photographer wearing a watch at noon in front of the Houses of Parliament on Westminster Bridge, in London, UK — The Houses of Parliament on Westminster Bridge, London, UK.

Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, New York, US

Andrew Kelly / Reuters The clock strikes noon at the main concourse of the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan in New York — Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, New York, US

The Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters The clock on Spasskaya tower showing the time at noon, is pictured next to Moscow's Kremlin, and St. Basil's Cathedral — The Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia.

Bolivar Avenue in Caracas, Venezuela.

Manaure Quintero / Reuters A watch showing the time at noon in front of Bolivar Avenue in Caracas, Venezuela — Bolivar Avenue in Caracas, Venezuela.

United States Capitol, Washington, DC

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters A mobile phone showing the time at noon in front of the United States Capitol, Washington, US — United States Capitol, Washington, DC

A Roman theatre in Amman, Jordan.

Muhammad Hamed / Reuters A watch showing the time at noon in front of the Roman theatre in Amman, Jordan — A Roman theatre in Amman, Jordan.

Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Gleb Garanich / Reuters A clock showing the time at noon is seen near almost empty streets at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kiev, Ukraine — Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv, Ukraine.

A beach in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories.

Mohammed Salem / Reuters A watch showing the time at noon in front of a beach in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories — A beach in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories.

The State Hermitage Museum in front of Palace Square in St Petersburg, Russia.

Anton Vaganov / Reuters A clock showing the time at noon by The State Hermitage museum in front of Palace square in Saint Petersburg, Russia — The State Hermitage Museum in front of Palace Square in St Petersburg, Russia.

Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, also known as the Grand Palace) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Jorge Silva / Reuters A clock showing the time at noon at Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, also known as The Grand Palace) in Bangkok, Thailand — Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, also known as the Grand Palace) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan.

Issei Kato / Reuters A man wearing a protective face mask takes a photo with his mobile phone at noon, at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan — Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan.

All photographs subject to copyright