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Photos: Tampa Bay street scenes show life on pause

Closed bars. A lonely airport. Empty parking lots. Here’s what Tampa Bay Times photographers found this week.
 
The Don CeSar Hotel, St. Pete Beach, had few cars in its parking lot, Friday, March 27, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Don CeSar Hotel, St. Pete Beach, had few cars in its parking lot, Friday, March 27, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
Published March 27, 2020|Updated March 28, 2020

As cities across Tampa Bay adapt to the ‘safer-at-home’ orders, Tampa Bay streets seem eerily still, devoid of the energy of people going about their day; working, dining, shopping.

This is further accentuated by the many closed businesses, most with notes on the front doors, promising to return when the nightmare of this pandemic is under control.

A kayaker paddles by on the water looking out toward the St. Pete Pier from Demens Landing Park during an overcast sunrise on Friday morning, March 27, 2020 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
The beach on the south side of the Dunedin Causeway is empty on Friday, March 27, 2020, where Pinellas County has closed all area beaches and is enforcing a "safer-at-home" order in the wake of the acceleration of the coronavirus pandemic in Florida. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Just a handful of people visit the boardwalk at John's Pass where only a few businesses remain open, when it otherwise would be a peak season for visitors in the area, due to the coronavirus pandemic, on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in Madeira Beach. [ MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE | Times ]
Open businesses and people were scarce at John's Pass Village on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 in Madeira Beach. [ MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE | Times ]
Usually alive with people and music, Sparkman Wharf in Tampa has been closed to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic. People are barred from entering the property. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
Just two people cross the ticketing and check-in level of Tampa International Airport on Friday, March 27, 2020. Many people are avoiding travel due to the coronavirus pandemic. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
Vacant escalators can be seen at Tampa International Airport, Friday, March 27, 2020. Many people are avoiding travel due to the coronavirus pandemic. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
Few cars and pedestrians were seen on Beach Drive, St. Petersburg, Friday, March 27, 2020 at 10:30 am. Even days ago people were still out and about in this area. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
Oil marks in the pavement from vehicles can be seen in the parking lot of the Tyrone Square Mall, St. Petersburg, Friday, March 27, 2020. The mall is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
Vehicle traffic in downtown Tampa was light at the intersection of North Tampa Street and East Cass Street, looking East, Friday, March 27, 2020 at 11:30am due to many people working from home and/or sheltering at home. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
No visitors were filing the outdoor tables of the Hurricane Restaurant at Pass-A-Grille Beach on St. Pete Beach, Friday, March 27, 2020. The indoor dining was closed also. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
Hooters Restaurant at John's Pass Village, Madeira Beach, was closed for inside dining, Friday, March 27, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
The lifeguard tower remains manned despite Clearwater Beach being empty and closed on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Pinellas County government is considering the passage of a shelter-in-place order which would allow people to leave their homes for outdoor exercise, getting necessary items like medicine and groceries, and to care for sick relatives, but otherwise must stay in their households. Businesses that do not provide essential services cannot continue to operate from their facilities, and instead employees must work from home, if possible. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
The Columbia Restaurant had already reconfigured their dining rooms in accordance with new social distancing guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, March 20, 2020 Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis ordered all restaurants to discontinue sit-in dining and offer take-out service only. [ BOYZELL HOSEY | Times ]
A usually active 200 block of Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg is eerily quiet at around 9:30 pm on Wednesday night March 18, 2020 as restaurants and bars closed early due to the government mandated operating restrictions including alcohol sales impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. [ BOYZELL HOSEY | BOYZELL HOSEY | Times ]
A shuttle moves between terminals at Tampa International Airport (TIA) on March 24, 2020, minutes before an executive order issued by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis went into effect on March 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. which directs all persons whose point of departure originates from outside the State of Florida in an area with substantial community spread, to include the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York), and entering the State of Florida through airports to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into the State of Florida or the duration of the personÕs presence in the State of Florida, whichever is shorter. All persons isolating or quarantining under this Section, shall be responsible for all costs associated with that personÕs isolation or quarantine, including transportation, lodging, food, medical care and any other expenses to sustain the person during the period of isolation or quarantine. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
An American Airlines flight taxis to an airside terminal at Tampa International Airport (TIA) on March 24, 2020, minutes before an executive order issued by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis went into effect on March 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. which directs all persons whose point of departure originates from outside the State of Florida in an area with substantial community spread, to include the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York), and entering the State of Florida through airports to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into the State of Florida or the duration of the personÕs presence in the State of Florida, whichever is shorter. All persons isolating or quarantining under this Section, shall be responsible for all costs associated with that personÕs isolation or quarantine, including transportation, lodging, food, medical care and any other expenses to sustain the person during the period of isolation or quarantine. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Baggage dollies and luggage carts are parked on the tarmac at Tampa International Airport (TIA) on March 24, 2020, minutes before an executive order issued by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis went into effect on March 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. which directs all persons whose point of departure originates from outside the State of Florida in an area with substantial community spread, to include the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York), and entering the State of Florida through airports to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into the State of Florida or the duration of the personÕs presence in the State of Florida, whichever is shorter. All persons isolating or quarantining under this Section, shall be responsible for all costs associated with that personÕs isolation or quarantine, including transportation, lodging, food, medical care and any other expenses to sustain the person during the period of isolation or quarantine. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]