Coronavirus: Meadowhall deserted as shoppers stay at home amid COVID-19 crisis

This was the eerie scene at Meadowhall this afternoon with the shopping centre virtually deserted as shoppers stay at home amid the coronavirus crisis.
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The centre is still open – but aisles were virtually empty when normally Saturday afternoons would see the shopping mall packed to the rafters.

Some stores in the centre have been closed today – although there has been no direct order for shops to close at this stage.

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A number of other stores across Sheffield have also closed their doors in the wake of the growing COVID-19 crisis.

Meadowhall is like a ghost town.Meadowhall is like a ghost town.
Meadowhall is like a ghost town.

Last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all the UK’s pubs, restaurants and cafes to close their doors along with theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres.

Earlier in the week, people had only been advised to avoid pubs and restaurants.

People have been told to avoid unecessary travel on public transport and both bus and rail operators have reduced services as the UK moves nearer and nearer to a total lockdown like in many other European countries.

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In Italy, Spain and France, all shops have been closed – with only food stores and pharmacies remaining open as people are told to stay at home.

Yesterday, all the UK’s schools closed their door indefinitely – and pupils have been told they may not be able to return to classrooms until September, although pupils of key workers will still be able to go to school to be taught by a skeleton staff.