- Aside from slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, social distancing has had the unintended side effect of reducing pollution and replenishing wildlife across the globe.
- Several cities have seen a reduction in air pollution, while mountain goats overran one Welsh town as people stay indoors.
- The coronavirus has infected over 2.4 million and killed more than 165,000, with over 40,000 deaths in the US.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Social distancing might not just slow the spread of the novel coronavirus – it might also give the environment a break from the pollution of modern life.
Cities across the globe have reported reductions in air pollution as daily life has come to a grinding halt because of the pandemic. Governments around the world have asked people to practice social distancing (or mandated nationwide lockdown measures) to slow its spread.
Keep reading to see how urban environments have changed amid the coronavirus crisis.
Skies are free of smog in some parts of China …
Source: Business Insider
... and in Los Angeles.
I’ve never seen the skies so clear in Los Angeles for so many days. So beautiful that it’s almost painful to look at. pic.twitter.com/dzXq9oOfkg
— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) March 26, 2020
Italy's air quality has also improved.
Source: Insider
So has the air quality in major cities like New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco as shelter-in-place orders have dramatically reduced car travel.
Source: NBC News
With less boat traffic, the water in Venice's canals is clear instead of its usual murky green color.
Source: Insider
You can see straight to the bottom, and fish have returned to some parts.
Source: Insider
Goats roamed the streets, sunbathed on the grounds of a church, nibbled hedges, and trespassed through a few gardens in one Welsh town as human pedestrians stayed home to practice social distancing.
Source: Insider
Wild turkeys were spotted having some fun on a closed elementary school playground in California.
Spotted on the playground at the elementary school next door, which has been closed for several days ... wild turkeys! That’s a first. #coronavirus #westoakland pic.twitter.com/tGA4y1l09c
— Charlotte Simmonds (@CharSimmonds) March 20, 2020
Source: The Guardian
Deer have been spotted hanging out in streets and subway stations in Japan.
Source: The Guardian
And Barcelona residents say they have seen wild boars wander their streets.
Coronavirus in Catalonia — Boars descend from the mountains to the very center of Barcelona, after several days of people being locked at homepic.twitter.com/6IRFzl2cKz
— Alfons López Tena 🦇 (@alfonslopeztena) March 19, 2020
Source: The Guardian
Ducks wandered into the streets of Paris in the fourth week of a national lockdown in France.
Source: Getty Images
A peacock was also spotted outside a deserted shopping center in Dubai.
Source: Getty Images
Cows took over a beach usually frequented by tourists in Corsica, France.
Source: Getty Images
This young puma wandered from the mountains outside Santiago, Chile, into the streets while looking for food.
Source: Getty Images
Londoners also spotted a wild fox in their streets.
Source: Getty Images