A couple in Barcelona, Spain, embraces in Catalunya Square on March 15.
The coronavirus is leaving empty spaces everywhere
A couple in Barcelona, Spain, embraces in Catalunya Square on March 15.
David Ramos/Getty Images

Updated 1858 GMT (0258 HKT) June 29, 2020

The novel coronavirus is putting much of the world on hold.

To try to slow the spread of the virus, people are being asked to avoid crowds and limit their travel. Many governments have issued stay-at-home orders.

Organizations are doing their part to help.

Sports leagues have suspended their seasons. Museums, theme parks and other popular attractions have shut down. Many schools have closed, and companies are requiring employees to work from home. Religious communities are modifying their traditions.

What's left behind is an eerie emptiness.

The Oculus transportation hub in New York was mostly devoid of commuters and tourists on March 15.
The Oculus transportation hub in New York was mostly devoid of commuters and tourists on March 15.
Victor J. Blue/The New York Times/Redux
The University of Texas campus is quiet in Austin on March 29.
The University of Texas campus is quiet in Austin on March 29.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman/USA Today Network
Two police officers in Moscow patrol an almost empty Red Square on March 30.
Two police officers in Moscow patrol an almost empty Red Square on March 30.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Mountain goats <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/31/europe/wild-goats-wales-streets-lockdown-scli-gbr/index.html" target="_blank">roam the quiet streets</a> of Llandudno, Wales, on March 31. "They sometimes come to the foot of the Great Orme in March, but this year they are all wandering the streets in town as there are no cars or people," said Mark Richards of the hotel Landsdowne House.
Mountain goats roam the quiet streets of Llandudno, Wales, on March 31. "They sometimes come to the foot of the Great Orme in March, but this year they are all wandering the streets in town as there are no cars or people," said Mark Richards of the hotel Landsdowne House.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
In Washington, a mostly empty North Capitol Street is seen at dusk on March 31.
In Washington, a mostly empty North Capitol Street is seen at dusk on March 31.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Pope Francis delivers his blessing to an empty St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 15.
Pope Francis delivers his blessing to an empty St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 15.
Vatican News via AP
This aerial photo, taken on April 5, shows an empty Guanabara Park in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
This aerial photo, taken on April 5, shows an empty Guanabara Park in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Douglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images
A lone taxi drives over a typically gridlocked highway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on April 6.
A lone taxi drives over a typically gridlocked highway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on April 6.
Jon Gambrell/AP
A man prays at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on April 6.
A man prays at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on April 6.
Guy Prives/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
This aerial photo shows an empty street in Wuhan, China, on February 16. The novel coronavirus is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/05/asia/china-coronavirus-wildlife-consumption-ban-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank">believed to have started at a wildlife market in Wuhan.</a>
This aerial photo shows an empty street in Wuhan, China, on February 16. The novel coronavirus is believed to have started at a wildlife market in Wuhan.
Getty Images
Light traffic moves along a freeway in downtown Los Angeles on March 20.
Light traffic moves along a freeway in downtown Los Angeles on March 20.
Mark J. Terrill/AP
London's Leadenhall Market is seen in March, a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/uk/uk-coronavirus-lockdown-gbr-intl/index.html" target="_blank">issued a stay-at-home order</a> for the United Kingdom.
London's Leadenhall Market is seen in March, a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a stay-at-home order for the United Kingdom.
Yui Mok/PA Images/Getty Images
Restaurant seats stand empty in Covent Garden in London on March 13.
Restaurant seats stand empty in Covent Garden in London on March 13.
Simon Dawson/Reuters
A monkey crosses the road near India's Presidential Palace in New Delhi on March 22.
A monkey crosses the road near India's Presidential Palace in New Delhi on March 22.
Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters
A delivery worker wearing a face mask walks at a nearly empty shopping mall in Beijing on February 27.
A delivery worker wearing a face mask walks at a nearly empty shopping mall in Beijing on February 27.
Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images
The Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, is normally surrounded by people in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. But it was nearly empty on March 6.
The Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, is normally surrounded by people in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. But it was nearly empty on March 6.
Bandar Aldandani/AFP/Getty Images
People walk along the Las Vegas Strip on March 18 after casinos were ordered to shut down.
People walk along the Las Vegas Strip on March 18 after casinos were ordered to shut down.
John Locher/AP
The Seattle Times' newsroom is empty on March 12. Employees have been working remotely.
The Seattle Times' newsroom is empty on March 12. Employees have been working remotely.
Grant Hindsley/The New York Times/Redux
The parking lot is nearly empty at The Village shopping mall in Corte Madera, California, on March 17.
The parking lot is nearly empty at The Village shopping mall in Corte Madera, California, on March 17.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A single sunbather remains following the closure of Sydney's Bondi Beach on March 21.
A single sunbather remains following the closure of Sydney's Bondi Beach on March 21.
Loren Elliott/Reuters
Ancient Roman ruins, normally filled with tourists, are empty on March 10. All of Italy <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/europe/coronavirus-italy-lockdown-intl/index.html" target="_blank">was put on lockdown</a> as coronavirus cases continued to spread in the country.
Ancient Roman ruins, normally filled with tourists, are empty on March 10. All of Italy was put on lockdown as coronavirus cases continued to spread in the country.
Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
An empty subway train is seen in New York on March 17.
An empty subway train is seen in New York on March 17.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters
A pedestrian looks at a map at the Zermatt ski resort in Switzerland on March 18.
A pedestrian looks at a map at the Zermatt ski resort in Switzerland on March 18.
Valentin Flauraud/AFP/Getty Images
The Missouri Senate chamber sits empty on March 12 after senators adjourned for the day and announced they would not reconvene in a full session until at least March 30.
The Missouri Senate chamber sits empty on March 12 after senators adjourned for the day and announced they would not reconvene in a full session until at least March 30.
David A. Lieb/AP
Alianza Lima and Racing Club play a professional soccer match in an empty stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 12.
Alianza Lima and Racing Club play a professional soccer match in an empty stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 12.
Gustavo Garello/AP
A musician plays the violin on March 17 at a train station in Kiev, Ukraine.
A musician plays the violin on March 17 at a train station in Kiev, Ukraine.
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
A cleric prays in an empty mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 20.
A cleric prays in an empty mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 20.
Khalid al-Mousily/Reuters
Horses gallop past empty public stands at the Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on February 23.
Horses gallop past empty public stands at the Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on February 23.
Lo Chun Kit/Getty Images
Just a few people are seen inside the Milan Cathedral in Milan, Italy, on March 4. It had reopened to the public after a week of closure.
Just a few people are seen inside the Milan Cathedral in Milan, Italy, on March 4. It had reopened to the public after a week of closure.
Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images
A fan watches a professional soccer game in Grodno, Belarus, on April 10. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2020/03/30/belarus-keeps-sports-going-football-hockey-coronavirus-spt-intl-lon-orig.cnn" target="_blank">The Belarusian Premier League</a> was one of the few sports organizations that didn't shut down.
A fan watches a professional soccer game in Grodno, Belarus, on April 10. The Belarusian Premier League was one of the few sports organizations that didn't shut down.
Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters
A teacher walks in an empty public school in Labastida, Spain, on March 11.
A teacher walks in an empty public school in Labastida, Spain, on March 11.
Alvaro Barrientos/AP
This aerial photo shows the empty Legend Siam theme park in Pattaya, Thailand, on March 8.
This aerial photo shows the empty Legend Siam theme park in Pattaya, Thailand, on March 8.
Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images
The reflection of conductor Mate Hamori is seen as he conducts the Danubia Orchestra without an audience at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary, on March 13.
The reflection of conductor Mate Hamori is seen as he conducts the Danubia Orchestra without an audience at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary, on March 13.
Bernadett Szabo/Reuters
Amazon's headquarters in Seattle was virtually empty on March 10. Amazon recommended employees there to work from home.
Amazon's headquarters in Seattle was virtually empty on March 10. Amazon recommended employees there to work from home.
John Moore/Getty Images
A road in Mumbai, India, is deserted on March 28.
A road in Mumbai, India, is deserted on March 28.
Rajanish Kakade/AP
A woman in New York walks through a lightly trafficked Times Square on March 16.
A woman in New York walks through a lightly trafficked Times Square on March 16.
Seth Wenig/AP
Empty chairs are lined up at the Vatican before the Pope's Sunday Angelus prayer was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/06/world/religion-modify-traditions-coronavirus-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">streamed via video</a> on March 8. He later appeared briefly at the window to bless a small number of people gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Empty chairs are lined up at the Vatican before the Pope's Sunday Angelus prayer was streamed via video on March 8. He later appeared briefly at the window to bless a small number of people gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
Stacked furniture is seen inside the closed Cafe de Flore in Paris on March 15.
Stacked furniture is seen inside the closed Cafe de Flore in Paris on March 15.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
A bullfighting arena is empty on March 11 after events were suspended in South Korea's Cheongdo County.
A bullfighting arena is empty on March 11 after events were suspended in South Korea's Cheongdo County.
Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Music stands are placed in front of empty audience seats at the Konzerthaus in Dortmund, Germany, on March 12.
Music stands are placed in front of empty audience seats at the Konzerthaus in Dortmund, Germany, on March 12.
Bernd Thissen/Picture-Alliance/DPA/Getty Images
A hall is empty inside a train station in Jerusalem on March 11.
A hall is empty inside a train station in Jerusalem on March 11.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The rotunda at the US Capitol is empty after the last tour group passed through on March 12. All public tours were suspended until the end of March.
The rotunda at the US Capitol is empty after the last tour group passed through on March 12. All public tours were suspended until the end of March.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
The National Theatre in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 10. The Czech government banned events hosting more than 100 people.
The National Theatre in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 10. The Czech government banned events hosting more than 100 people.
David W. Cerny/Reuters
The Louvre museum in Paris was shut down on March 1.
The Louvre museum in Paris was shut down on March 1.
Rafael Yaghobzadeh/AP
An empty movie theater in Kochi, India, on March 11.
An empty movie theater in Kochi, India, on March 11.
Sivaram V./Reuters
A passenger walks in the empty check-in area of the Beijing Daxing International Airport on March 3.
A passenger walks in the empty check-in area of the Beijing Daxing International Airport on March 3.
Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images
Empty chairs are seen on a beach in Phuket, Thailand, on March 11.
Empty chairs are seen on a beach in Phuket, Thailand, on March 11.
Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters
Staff members walk inside the Venetian Macau after it closed its casino on February 5.
Staff members walk inside the Venetian Macau after it closed its casino on February 5.
Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
Seats are unoccupied at a professional soccer match in Mönchengladbach, Germany, on March 11. The "ghost match" was played without fans.
Seats are unoccupied at a professional soccer match in Mönchengladbach, Germany, on March 11. The "ghost match" was played without fans.
Fabian Strauch/Getty Images