Satellite photos show the deserted streets of Wuhan as the city enters its 8th day of quarantine

James Pasley,James PasleyJan 30, 2020, 22:41 IST

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.
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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.

See Satellite photos show the deserted streets of Wuhan as the city enters its 8th day of quarantine >>

Wuhan, China, appears to be abandoned.

On January 23, China closed off Wuhan, along with 15 other cities. Bus and train service stopped. Tunnels were closed off.

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.

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.

By January 28, the bridge was empty.

The roads beside Wuchang Railway Station in Wuhan were full on January 12.

By January 28, they were deserted.

Other train stations, which are typically bustling, were empty, too, except for paramilitary police guarding the entrance.

Source: Global News

Only a week earlier, on January 22, the city was still functioning.

But by January 29, major roads were completely deserted during the day.

Hotel's emptied out. Lobbies, like this one, were empty, except for a lone security guard.

There 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.

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