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The streets of Cardiff and Swansea were deserted on Saturday as pubs and restaurants closed and people stayed at home as the stark reality of social distancing became clear.

But popular tourist sites like Pen y Fan, Snowdon, Barry Island, Porthcawl and Cardiff's Roath Park were busy, leaving some concerned that social distancing was not being effectively practised. And mountain rescuers warned they cannot guarantee help amid the coronavirus crisis.

Hundreds of cars lined the roads around Snowdon and Pen y Fan as people sought to get fresh air and exercises but stayed away from city centres.

At Snowdon, hundreds of cars were parked in car parks and along roads, as numerous walkers hiked up Wales' biggest mountain. But they were warned they were putting themselves and mountain rescuers at risk as the covid-19 outbreak escalates.

Expressing his shock at the scene on Facebook, one man said: "I’m one for going round Snowdonia a lot. And I mean a lot... but I have never, ever seen cars parked along the Pass like this."

He added: "Absolutely shocked me, this has."

(Image: Arwyn Roberts) (Image: Arwyn Roberts)

At Barry Island, people appeared to be well spaced out on the beach but were close together as they queued at a nearby fish and chips booth.

On Saturday afternoon, it emerged that a further 89 cases of coronavirus Covid-19 had been confirmed in Wales and two people with the virus had died. One area of Wales saw a significantly higher spike than others and now has more than half of all the country's cases.

(Image: Mark Lewis) (Image: Mark Lewis) (Image: Mark Lewis)

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all bars, restaurants, cafes and gyms across the UK to close in a massive escalation of the UK's effort to stop the coronavirus Covid-19 from spreading. They were told to close on Friday night and it is not clear when they will be opening again. The restrictions also apply to nightclubs, theatres, cinemas and leisure centres.

(Image: Mark Lewis) (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency) (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)

The city centres were a different story, however. In Cardiff, St David's Shopping Centre, usually bustling with shoppers and tourists at the weekend, was almost empty as more and more shops closed their doors in light of the coronavirus pandemic. John Lewis announced it was closing all its stores.

Queen Street would normally be humming with the sound of conversation, the feet of thousands of shoppers and music from street performers. Today, just a few people were walking on one of city's most-used pedestrian streets, perhaps out of curiosity more than necessity.

(Image: David Owens) (Image: Mark Lewis) (Image: Mark Lewis) (Image: Mark Lewis)

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a package of measures on Friday, March 20, to ensure that employee would continue to be paid up to 80% of their wages if they could no longer work because of the impact of coronavirus.

The buzzing nightlife of the Welsh capital and other major cities' nightspots was nowhere to be seen last night as only a few drinkers ventured out for a last-minute pint before pubs closed.

On a sunny afternoon, Cardiff Bay and the Millennium Centre would usually be full of families buying ice cream and tourists taking the views out to Penarth over the bay.

(Image: Mark Lewis) (Image: Mark Lewis)

Today, it was eerily quiet with only a few dog walkers and others out to stretch their legs. The restaurants and pubs that line the bay were all empty and closed, the staff sent home for an unknown number of weeks or months.

Car parks, usually full to capacity at the weekend, were deserted of vehicles and silent as footfall was reduced to almost nothing within 24 hours of the latest government guidance.

Many people would normally take the opportunity to shop for essentials at the weekend, but larger stores that would usually be bustling were empty on Saturday.

(Image: Mark Lewis) (Image: Mark Lewis) (Image: Mark Lewis)

IKEA in Cardiff, usually busy with people looking for new furniture or maybe some Swedish meatballs, was shuttered and locked and its car parks empty.

It was similar scene in Swansea city centre on Saturday as shoppers stayed at home.

Castle Gardens was almost empty apart from seagulls and the odd pedestrian and High Street was free of the usual weekend traffic.

There were a few hardy shoppers about on Oxford Street and around the main shopping area, but many were taking precautions against catching the virus.

(Image: Adrian White) (Image: Adrian White) (Image: Adrian White) (Image: Adrian White) (Image: Adrian White) (Image: Adrian White)

Not everywhere is closing though, supermarkets are still battling with increased demand and panic-buying as queues stretch into the car parks of stores this weekend.

Many supermarkets are reserving their first hour of trading for the elderly and key NHS workers, in an attempt to get food and essential supplies to those most in need and most at risk during the coronavirus pandemic.

On the WalesOnline Facebook page, people have been commenting on the large numbers of people, especially elderly people, out shopping or queuing to get in.

Natalie King said: "Not surprised it's spreading when people are not following guidelines. No social gatherings but have massive crowds of elderly and many other people outside the supermarkets."

Deborah Morris said: "The queue outside a supermarket to get in today was horrendous and when they opened the doors instead of going in single file everyone just crammed in so the foyer was just a huge crowd of people with the heater above blowing down on you. The bread and tins aisle was rammed full of people."

The North Wales Mountain Rescue Association - which represents the region's six teams - raised serious concerns about walkers taking to mountains, sparking unnecessary call-outs for them.

In a statement, Mountain Rescue England and Wales said: "Resilience is a priority in order to ensure that as many volunteers are available to provide the rescue service. This is achieved by minimising exposure of face to face contact by arranging meetings online and postponing physical training.

"People can greatly assist too, by answering honestly when asked about symptoms of Covid-19 by the Mountain Rescue team leaders and by not taking unnecessary risks when enjoying the outdoors.

"Anyone who has the symptoms of Covid-19 or is self-isolating because of exposure of Covid-19 should seriously consider the risks that they impose on the volunteers of the mountain rescue teams should they need and call for their assistance.

"These volunteers are well-equipped and well-trained for all the usual hazards that they encounter on the mountains. They are not trained or equipped for dealing with the effects of this pandemic."