Brooke Herbert

Aerial view of rush hour on I-5 in downtown Portland, Oregon, March 25, 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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As Portland residents surrender to Governor Kate Brown's 'stay-home' order, an eerie quiet has set in across much of the city.

Schools remain closed. For Oregon's students, Spring Break during the time of coronavirus will surely go down as the one they'll most remember. As for parents, many are struggling to figure out how to keep their kids held to something, anything, in the form of routine.

State Parks are closed.

Most businesses are too, and the effects are catastrophic as record numbers of Oregonians continue to get laid off.

We mourn all the places we can no longer go,

But if Oregonians continue to stay home, the chances are much likelier that fewer will come down with virus, and that local hospitals will be able to handle the burden the coronavirus pandemic could place on them.

Fellow curve flatteners, have a look at some scenes of what Portland looks like now. And plan, if you will, for better days to come.

— Beth Nakamura

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Brooke Herbert

A parishioner prays in a closed St. Alexander Catholic Church/San Alejandro in Cornelius, Oregon on March 26, 2020. The doors of the church have been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's order to stay home. Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Mark Graves

Flowers decorate the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Mark Graves

Portland's cityscape during the coronavirus outbreak March 23, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff Mark Graves

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Mark Graves

Flowers decorate the east bank of the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Dave Killen

The Clinton Street Theater in SE Portland on March 19, 2020.

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Mark Graves

The Tilikum Crossing Bridge Thursday night amid the coronavirus outbreak March 26, 2020.

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Camelia blooms made in the place of a heart on Northeast Stanton Street and 10th Avenue in Northeast Portland. The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Dave Killen

Dillinger's Barbershop in NE Portland was closed on March 23, 2020, the same day that Governor Kate Brown ordered that all barbershops and hair salons shut down to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

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Mark Graves

Portland's Eastbank Esplanade during the coronavirus outbreak Tuesday evening, March 23, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Mark Graves

A person sweeps the walls of a building while riding a bike in inner southeast Portland, March 25, 2020.

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Brooke Herbert

Rent strike graffiti is seen at an exit off of Interstate 5 in Portland, on March 23, 2020. Amid the coronavirus outbreak and a huge spike in unemployment, some residents are asking for temporary breaks in rent.

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Beth Nakamura

The Park Blocks near Portland State University during lunch hour, March 18, 2020. Beth Nakamura/Staff

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Beth Nakamura

A lone glove sits on the pavement at the otherwise empty Portland State University campus.

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Mark Graves

Where I-5, I-405 and the Marquam Bridge weave together near the Southwest Portland waterfront March 24, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Mark Graves

Flowers decorate the sidewalks along SE Madison St. and 8th Avenue in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

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Brooke Herbert

Aerial footage of the rush hour Morrison Bridge in downtown Portland, Oregon, March 25, 2020, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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Mark Graves

Flowers decorate the sidewalks along SE Madison St. and 8th Avenue in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Samantha Swindler

Caution tape surrounds a cordoned off playground at Water Tower Park in Milwaukie on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. The North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District closed all its playgrounds in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Sean Meagher

Caution tape is scattered around the Cook Park playground after the park was shut down to the public by the city due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sean Meagher/Staff

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Mark Graves

Flowers decorate the sidewalks along SE Madison St. and 8th Avenue in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff

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Dave Killen

The Hollywood Theatre in NE Portland on March 19, 2020.

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Beth Nakamura

Northeast Alberta Street in Portland is unusually quiet Tuesday night, March 17, 2020. Beth Nakamura/Staff

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Brooke Herbert

A water fountain is covered in caution tape in St. Alexander Catholic Church/San Alejandro in Cornelius, Oregon, on March 26, 2020. The doors of the church have been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home order.

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Sean Meagher

Caution tape is scattered around the Cook Park playground after the park was shut down to the public by the city due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sean Meagher/Staff

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Brooke Herbert

Natalie Pruett wears gloves and monitors customers while working at the Cedar Mill Liquor Store in Portland, on March 26, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home order. Liquor stores were deemed an essential business and have remained open.

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Samantha Swindler

Caution tape surrounds a cordoned off playground at Water Tower Park in Milwaukie on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

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Mark Graves

Few cars travel along NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Thursday night, March 26, 2020. Mark Graves/Staff Mark Graves