The state of emergency imposed on New York City has transformed one of the most crowded and hyperactive places on Earth into an eerie world of silent streets, closed bars and empty subway trains.

Seen from above, the city is almost unrecognisable — a desolate place with not a traffic jam in sight. And the quiet has descended in just a few days, as city and state authorities quickly ratcheted up their dramatic measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The latest restrictions are part of an aggressive strategy to help enforce the “social distancing” needed to help stop the virus from spreading throughout the community — a strategy driven in part by signs that people have been following advice only selectively.

In the last week, pictures of young New Yorkers flocking to bars as their workplaces and colleges shut down roused serious alarm, with authorities recognising that simply imploring people to take responsibility would not be enough to put the kind of distance between people that will keep the virus at bay.

Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Show all 26 1 /26 Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town An empty street in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease in New York City Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town A cab drives down at Seventh Avenue in Times Square Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., Mar 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Syracuse University campus is seen almost empty as number of universities are moving all classes to e-learning, due to the coronavirus outbreak Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen near Lincoln tunnel Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan An empty restaurant Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., Mar 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty chairs are seen near Hudson yards Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan An empty restaurant Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town A mobile souvenir shop sits in an empty parking lot at Allianz Field as a match between the New York Red Bulls at Minnesota United FC is postponed USA Today Sports/Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., Mar 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan An empty Jacob K Javits Convention Center Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Syracuse University A person sits in an empty eating hall Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty parking lots Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., Mar 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Jacob K Javits Convention Center Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Seventh Avenue A man crosses 7av in Times Square while it is seen nearly empty during a regular day due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, New York, U.S., March 14, 2020. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Nunes slams China on handling of coronavirus: 'They downplayed it' Nunes slams China on handling of coronavirus: 'They downplayed it' EDUARDO MUNOZ Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., Mar 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty retail stores Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen outside the New York Times building Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty parking lots Reuters Coronavirus turns New York into a ghost town Manhattan Empty street is seen in Manhattan borough following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York City, U.S., Mar 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon JEENAH MOON Reuters

As The New York Times’s Charlie Warzel wrote, “Continuing the weekend tradition of packing the bars is selfish and reckless during this pandemic. It will speed up the spread of the virus, increasing the suffering for older and more vulnerable people and for the medical workers who will be caring for them.”

Other states too have been tightly restricting activity in public places, including by instructing businesses to close their doors. New York was one of several cities to cancel its St Patrick’s Day parade, among them Boston and Chicago; the governor of Oregon, Kate Brown, is reportedly considering a similar move when it comes to bars and restaurants, but says she may resort first to a curfew.

In a statement announcing his city’s latest measures, New York mayor Bill de Blasio said: “Our lives are all changing in ways that were unimaginable just a week ago”.

“This is not a decision I make lightly. These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality.