Before-and-after photos show 8 of San Francisco's most famous tourist attractions nearly deserted since the city was shut down to contain the coronavirus
San Francisco saw 26.2 million tourists in 2019, according to the San Francisco Travel Association.
As the streets of San Francisco thin out over coronavirus concerns, its biggest tourist attractions, like City Lights Bookstore, are currently much lonelier than usual.
Pier 39 is a shopping mall and tourist attraction just north of North Beach. Throngs of visitors usually clamor for a bowl of chowder or come to spot the sea lions lounging. nearby.
It's now fenced off amid the regionwide shelter-in-place order.
Pier 39 is a part of Fisherman's Wharf, where visitors dine on seafood and stroll along the waterfront.
It's all but a ghost town now.
Lombard Street is known as one of the world's "crookedest" streets. Visitors regularly flock to either walk or drive down the iconic stretch.
But on the first day of the shelter-in-place order, no one was walking or driving on Lombard as thousands hunkered down in their homes.
Similarly, a jaunt through San Francisco's Chinatown District is a must if you're visiting the city — or if you live here.
But the neighborhood is also empty amid the order.
Chinatown businesses have been seeing sales drop long before the order went into effect. The district, as well as many in the Asian-American community, have experienced xenophobia and racism in the face of the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China.
To the north of the city is its signature Golden Gate Bridge — 112,000 vehicles usually cross the span each day.
Source: The Mercury News
That number has slowed to a crawl since the order went into effect, costing the bridge and its governing body $300,000 in toll revenue a day.
Source: Business Insider
The city's premiere shopping destination, Union Square, is also a common spot to visit. It's located near the bustling Financial District.
It was cleared out on the first day of the shelter-in-place order, save for a few people.
Locals and tourists alike typically frequent the many shops near the square, like Uniqlo, H&M, and Macy's.
But now, windows are boarded up in some shopfronts and the streets are devoid of cars.
Cable car rides are also at the top of the list for many visitors.
But the city shut the iconic cars down to protect operators from contracting the coronavirus.
The cable cars didn't have closed cabs that separated operators from riders.
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