Photos: Empty NYC streets as “New York State on Pause” begins

The governor’s social-distancing mandate has rendered Gotham a ghost town

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order “New York State on Pause” went into effect Sunday, bringing life in the city to a near halt.

The order bars non-essential workers from going out to work. For real estate agents, that means they can no longer conduct in-person showings.

With non-food retailers shuttered and restaurants closed to diners, landlords and renters alike are grappling with how mortgages and rent will be paid.

Construction work appears to be one of the few exceptions — though this weekend Mayor Bill de Blasio questioned whether work on condos was necessary.

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Well before the governor’s order kicked in at 8 p.m. Sunday, New York City’s streets were deserted. Hotspots like Times Square, Wall Street and Hudson Yards looked like ghost towns.

Check out the slideshow above to see the empty streetscapes.

Photos by Anuja Shakya

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