Satellite photos show the deserted streets of Wuhan as the city enters its 8th day of quarantine
Planet Labs Inc / Handout / Reuters
Since January 23, Wuhan, China, has been on lockdown to stop the Wuhan coronavirus from spreading.
Five million left the city before it was closed off, but the city was swollen with people visiting for the Lunar New Year, and 9 million remain.
Regardless, the lockdown's effect is noticeable from above.
Wuhan looks like a ghost town.
Since January 23, the city of 11 million has been on lockdown. The Chinese government closed off Wuhan to try and stop the novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, from spreading.
The coronavirus is thought to have originated at a wet market within the city. As of Thursday, it had killed 170 people, and infected at least 7,900 worldwide.
Five million people left before the lockdown, and and an estimated 9 million people were in the city once the quarantine started.
Despite this, satellite photos show a city without traffic. Typically congested streets and train stations are empty. Hotel lobbies are without patrons.
Photos on the ground show a few people still brave enough to venture out. But for the most part, nothing is going on.
Here's what life in Wuhan looks like under quarantine.
Wuhan, China, appears to be abandoned.
Arek Rataj / APOn January 23, China closed off Wuhan, along with 15 other cities. Bus and train service stopped. Tunnels were closed off.
China Daily / Reuters
Sources: Business Insider, Business Insider
Five million people left before the lockdown, and 9 million are still in Wuhan. But from above, day or night, the effect is noticeable.
Hector Retamal / AFP / Getty
Source: Business Insider
The contrast before and after the lockdown is stark. Here's traffic on the the Yingwuzhou Yangtze River Bridge, on January 12.
Planet Labs Inc / Handout / ReutersBy January 28, the bridge was empty.
Planet Labs Inc / Handout / ReutersThe roads beside Wuchang Railway Station in Wuhan were full on January 12.
Planet Labs Inc / Handout / ReutersBy January 28, they were deserted.
Planet Labs Inc / Handout / ReutersA satellite image of an airport in Wuhan in October 2019 show a parking lot full of cars and planes in the runway.
Satellite image ©2020 Maxar TechnologiesHowever, a recent image of the same airport shows an eerily empty parking lot with grounded planes surrounding the terminal.
Satellite image ©2020 Maxar TechnologiesOther train stations, which are typically bustling, were empty, too, except for paramilitary police guarding the entrance.
Thepaper / AP
Source: Global News
Only a week earlier, on January 22, the city was still functioning.
Mark Schiefelbein / APBut by January 29, major roads were completely deserted during the day.
Hector Retamal / AFP / GettyHotel's emptied out. Lobbies, like this one, were empty, except for a lone security guard.
Hector Retamal / AFP / GettyThere are no vaccines available that can prevent people from catching the coronavirus. For the average person, wearing a mask is not as effective as everyday measures like hand-washing and avoiding close contact with anyone who might be infected.
Getty
Source: Business Insider
Residents have been told to stay home, but some still take walks ...
Getty
Source: Business Insider
... or take their children to play outside.
Arek Rataj/APBut they're in the minority.
GettyThere's one area that appears to have increased activity...
Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies...construction sites for two new hospitals to accommodate the overwhelming number of patients, which should be open at the beginning of February.
Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies
Read the original article on Business Insider