London is different before and after the pandemic 0
When photojournalist Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him was how crowded the British capital was.
However, when returning to famous locations in the early days of April, Augstein witnessed a completely different London.
Like many places around the world, the UK is implementing social distancing, people are required to stay at home, schools and non-essential businesses and entertainment establishments are closed to control the spread of Covid.
More than a thousand people gathered to record the moment Big Ben inside the Elizabeth Tower rang its last bells on August 21, 2017, before shutting down for four years for renovation.
On August 30, 2019, a group of students played with Larry the cat at 10 Downing Street after a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
On the evening of April 5, the 55-year-old Prime Minister was taken to the hospital on the advice of his doctor for a health check-up, 10 days after he tested positive for nCoV.
The bus stop at Victoria train station on April 2 no longer had a line of people waiting like in August 2015.
Wembley Stadium was packed with spectators before the football match between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals on October 27, 2019, but there were only a few joggers on April 1.
Millennium Bridge on February 16, 2016 (left) and on April 1.
Regent Walking Street was packed with people in July 2015 and deserted on April 2, when all the shops were closed.
On the Piccadilly metro line on March 17, there were still passengers sitting close together, but on April 2, Augstein became the only person in the car.
Contrasting scenes at St Pancras international train station in July 2019 (left) and on April 2.
A large crowd enjoyed the performance of the Red Arrows aerobatic team, of the British Royal Air Force, at Buckingham Palace on the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II on June 8, 2019.
The UK currently records more than 47,800 cases of nCoV infection, of which nearly 5,000 deaths.
Photo: AP
