Before and after lockdown in Atlanta: Photos show how highways have emptied, playgrounds are barricaded, and tourist hot spots have turned into ghost towns as state coronavirus cases mount over 7,000
- Eerie images show how the bustling city of Atlanta has turned into a quiet ghost town in a matter of days
- Last week Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued statewide shelter in place orders through April 13
- He placed mandate to combat the spread of COVID-19 as state reports over 7,000 cases, nearly 300 deaths
- Since then popular tourist attractions like Centennial Olympic Park & downtown Atlanta have been deserted
- Fulton County, where Atlanta is located, has the greatest number of cases with 1053 reported, 32 deaths
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Eerie images show how the bustling city of Atlanta has turned into a quiet ghost town with its typically traffic-filled streets empty and noisy downtown somberly silent.
On Thursday Georgia Governor Brian Kemp put the state on lockdown and issued shelter in place orders through April 13 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, as the state’s number of COVID-19 cases mounts to over 7,000 and 294 deaths.
The mandate was heavily criticized as Kemp was one of the last states in the country to urge residents to stay indoors and practice social distancing.
The mandate has forced the vibrant city’s 10.6million residents to stay at home, emptying its busy streets.
Photographs show how Atlanta’s busiest tourist destinations including Centennial Olympic Park and packed highways are now left completely deserted.
Photographs show how Atlanta’s busiest tourist destinations including Centennial Olympic Park (above left on March 12) were once packed with people and are now left completely deserted follow Governor Brian Kemp’s shelter-at-home order last week that took effect Friday. On Monday (right) Centennial Olympic Park at the intersection of Marietta Rd and Ivan Allen Jr Blvd was eerily deserted with just a few people pictured out and about
Centennial Olympic Park is a 22-acre public park located in downtown Atlanta that was built for the 1996 Olympic Games held in the city. Usually it’s teeming with visitors and tourists as pictured above on March 12. Following the stay at home orders Centennial Olympic Park is completely empty. The intersection of Marietta Rd and Ivan Allen Jr Blvd pictured above
Atlanta’s busy freeway system is usually inundated with cars and traffic as pictured above before Georgia lockdown orders. On Monday the same view of the highway was completely empty with just one solitary car in sight
Before the lockdown a long line was snapped outside of the Tabernacle, a popular concert hall in downtown Atlanta. Today following Gov. Kemp’s stay at home orders, the streets are empty and all social gatherings cancelled
Under Kemp’s orders Georgians will isolate themselves except for ‘essential services’ such as buying groceries or medicine.
It was a surprise move by the Governor who previously said local officials could handle the virus in their own communities.
Last week in a press conference he said he changed his mind after learning that people who do not exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 could spread the disease.
‘These individuals could have been infecting people before they ever felt bad,’ Kemp said during a Wednesday news conference. ‘We didn’t know that until the last 24 hours.’
Locals pictured out and about on March 11 in downtown Atlanta when the COVID-19 crisis was starting to pick up speed. Following lockdown orders that exact spot was completely empty of people as locals are urged to stay indoors
Streets usually packed with students and youngsters in downtown Atlanta are left eerily silent and empty today. A group of travelers pictured before and after the lockdown
Barricades up: Playgrounds and parks usually teeming with youngsters are no longer the lively sight they used to be before lockdown (above) as pictured above on March 12. Today a fence has been erected around this local playground to prevent kids from gathering and playing
Atlanta’s Lindbergh Center Marta Station is usually one of the busiest in the city, pictured above on March 11 before lockdown. Today the train station is quiet and deserted as people are told to work from home and limit leaving the home
Locals pictured enjoying the weather in downtown Atlanta with their young ones before Friday’s shut down orders. Now the very same park is completely empty as people practice social responsibility and stay at home
The Atlanta skyline as seen from the Jackson Street Bridge pictured on March 11 before the state shut down. The skyline pictured right following lockdown orders showing the normally packed highway streets left desolate
However, officials in Georgia were warned about community transmission as early as March 2.
Kemp has further come under fire for re-opening beaches despite his decision to shut down the state.
Statewide there are 7558 cases of COVID-19 and 294 deaths reported as of Monday, according to government data.
Fulton County, where Atlanta is located, has the greatest number of cases with 1053 reported and 32 deaths so far.
Empty streets: Centennial Olympic Park is now a sad, empty sight after lockdown orders prevented locals and tourists from visiting the area
Fulton County, where Atlanta is located, has the greatest number of COVID-19 cases with 1053 reported and 32 deaths so far
Under Kemp’s orders Georgians will isolate themselves except for ‘essential services’ such as buying groceries or medicin.
Empty streets in downtown Atlanta pictured following Gov. Kemp’s lockdown orders