Contrast between normal Anzac Day commemorations and today’s coronavirus-disrupted services is made clear in side-by-side photos
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Photographs show the far-reaching impacts of the coronavirus on traditional ANZAC Day commemorations in Australia and New Zealand.
Images captured during dawn services at war memorials in Melbourne and Wellington on Saturday showed vacant streets and small crowds.
Dawn services and annual marches were cancelled ahead of commemorations on Saturday because of health concerns around the potential spread of COVID-19.
PICTURED: Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 and April 25, 2018
The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne was eerily quiet on Saturday morning compared to the usual throngs of people in attendance at the annual dawn service.
Morning services at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington painted a similar picture.
While previous years showed thousands of people crowding together to pay their respects this year’s services featured only a handful of police officers and members of the media.
Some services were cancelled a full month before Anzac Day with the public urged to tune in pay their respects via radio, social media or television.
PICTURED: St Kilda Road, in Melbourne on April 25 in 2018 and April 25, 2020
PICTURED: Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 featured only a handful of police officers and members of the media compared to commemorations on April 25, 2018
PICTURED: Members of the public pay respects at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 and April 25, 2018
PICTURED: Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 and April 25, 2018
PICTURED: Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 and April 25, 2018
PICTURED: Wellington’s Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on April 25, 2018 and April 25, 2020
PICTURED: Wellington’s Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on April 25, 2018 and April 25, 2020