Many countries around the world are reacting to the crisis with curfews, contact bans and appeals. Tourists are staying away from many sights. Previously crowded places are now almost deserted.

Whether in Cologne, Berlin, Paris, London or Calcutta - the crisis, which is probably unprecedented in the history of mankind, is leaving behind comparable images all over the world. Where life used to take place, there is now a yawning emptiness.

At the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the effects of the coronavirus crisis are clearly visible. On the left is a picture taken in February 2019, the right picture was taken at the end of March 2020.

It is usually (full) busy around the Cologne Cathedral. Hundreds of visitors cavort on the Domplatte, street artists enliven the square. Today, the place looks like it is extinct. The left picture shows the square during the World Youth Day 2005.

Last year, there were still many people on the roads here. The Königsallee in Düsseldorf is almost deserted during the curfew.

Traffic on Hamburg's most important east-west connection, Ludwig-Erhard-Strasse, at the same time of day: seen on the left before the contact restrictions to contain the coronavirus on 7 March and on the right on 28 March 2020.

There is always something going on in the German capital. Here you can see the Berlin Cathedral before the Corona crisis and up-to-date. Due to the extensive restrictions, there are significantly fewer people to be seen in public spaces.

Another picture from Berlin showing the drastic effects on public transport. Because many people stay at home and work in the home office, the platforms are almost empty. You can see the underground station Friedrichstraße of line S6 before and during the Corona crisis.

While the baggage claim counters in Terminal 2 at Munich Airport were surrounded by a queue of people at the beginning of the Easter holidays 2019, the hall will be almost deserted at the beginning of the Easter holidays 2020 due to the corona crisis.

In Europe, Italy was one of the first countries to be hit particularly hard by the spread of the virus. Since then, curfews have brought public life to a standstill. The Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome, otherwise so popular with tourists, is deserted during the crisis.

The Pantheon in Rome also enjoys great popularity with visitors to the Italian capital during normal times. Today the tourists stay away.

The Spanish Steps in Rome before and during the Corona pandemic. In Italy, apart from pharmacies and food stores, all shops had to close on 12 March.

St. Peter's Square with a view of St. Peter's Basilica attracts many thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year. These aerial photos show: The visitors are now staying away.

Buckingham Palace in London is the official residence of the British monarch. Traditionally, countless visitors gather here, especially for official celebrations and events.

The underground in London is the oldest in the world and carries thousands of commuters and tourists through the English capital every day. A completely different picture is presented during the Corona crisis. The passengers stay away.

The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris. Few places in the world are so often visited and photographed. However, France is also taking drastic social measures against the spread of the virus during the pandemic, and so the French capital shows itself unusually empty.

The Rue Sainte-Catherine in the French city of Bordeaux is actually a visitor magnet. Also this street remains mostly empty in Corona times.

The Taj Mahal on the outskirts of the Indian city of Agra is a mausoleum and a Unesco world heritage site. For many lovers it is a place of pilgrimage, because it was once built as a proof of love for a deceased person. About 40,000 visitors usually come every year. Now the masses of people stay away.

The Kaaba in Mecca also attracts countless pilgrims every year. The cuboid building in Mecca is the central sanctuary of Islam. Because Saudi Arabia has taken drastic measures to contain the coronavirus, there is currently a ghostly emptiness there.

The spread of the novel coronavirus began in China. In Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, a portrait of the late communist leader Mao Zedong is missing from in front of the audience.

The promenade at the river Huangpu in Shanghai is very busy in normal times. Because of the corona virus, the place now appears to be empty. Those who still go out on the streets in Shanghai wear a face mask.

Ataba Square in the heart of the Egyptian capital Cairo rarely stands still. Due to the pandemic, the market stalls have closed and traffic has come to a standstill for the most part.

The Lebanese capital Beirut presents a very similar picture. Only a few people are still on the move in the city centre.

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Original text: Andreas Dyck. Translation: Mareike Graepel