Photos show Venice's canals eerily empty during coronavirus pandemic

Italy has become the second-most-affected country by the spread of the coronavirus, with approximately 60 million people under total lockdown.

The spread of COVID-19, the official term for the disease caused by the virus, has been especially severe there, with confirmed cases in all 20 regions of the country. At the time of writing, Italy has seen 24,747 total cases of the virus, a number which has doubled within the last five days. A total of 1,809 people have died.

As part of the lockdown, the Italian government has rolled out national restrictions on public gatherings, a form of social distancing which is our best weapon to fight the spread of the virus. Travel is also restricted, with only special circumstances allowed. People in Venice appear to be heeding these restrictions and staying indoors, transforming the buzzing tourist-populated city on the water into a picture of relative stillness.

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Images of Venice's iconic canals in particular, usually afloat with its signature gondolas, heaped delivery boats, and other vessels, show a city withdrawn to the indoors. Usually a location dealing with overtourism, Venice has been described by the New York Timesas "ghastly empty."

In fact, as CNN reports, the city's canal water has appeared more clear than usual, with people uploading photos to a Facebook group called Venezia Pulita(Clean Venice). But the Venice mayor's office told the news outlet that the water quality hasn't improved, rather that it "now looks clearer because there is less traffic on the canals, allowing the sediment to stay at the bottom."

Either way, it's weird to see one of Italy's biggest tourist destinations ground to a halt — like much of the country.

An empty Gran Canal view in Venice, Italy on March 15, 2020. Credit: Giacomo Cosua / NurPhoto via Getty Images S.Giorgio Island, taken from Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy on March 15, 2020. Credit: GIACOMO COSUA / NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES Barely any people can be seen on the streets. Credit: GIACOMO COSUA / NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES The coronavirus pandemic has left Venice silent and empty. Credit: GIACOMO COSUA / NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES A handful of Venice residents venturing outdoors. Credit: GIACOMO COSUA / NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES A lone pigeon, looking out over still waters. Credit: GIACOMO COSUA / NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES A canal in Venice, empty of boats. Credit: GIACOMO COSUA / NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES

COVID-19 has now infected over 173,000 people worldwide. More than 7,000 have been killed.