April 2020

A month into the pandemic, the streets of New York were still desolate. As the cases surged, the louder the streets seemed to echo at 7pm. The emptiness was disconcerting, but hopefulness remained.

In addition to the encouraging hand-made signs, the city displayed signs to ensure people were staying apart.

Essential workers and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) responders taking a much-needed break. At this time, brave first responders from all over the country were arriving to assist in the efforts as cases continued to surge in New York.

Although the streets were empty, hand-made signs started to pop up all over the city, these signs offered comfort and community from afar. To me, these signs symbolized the strength and unity of the city. New York State records more COVID-19 cases than any other country (besides U.S.).

In an effort to regain some semblance of normalcy, brave New Yorkers would retreat to the nearest park to stand six feet apart and see friends of family. Seeing young children in masks was one of the more jarring moments of the pandemic. New York State requires face masks or coverings in public places.

As cases surged, and NY was officially the epicenter of the global pandemic, the streets became even more desolate. On this day, you could walk down the middle of Park Avenue, which is one of the busiest avenues in the city. Walking along the empty streets were some of my most isolating times.

As cases surged, and NY was officially the epicenter of the global pandemic, the streets became even more desolate. On this day, you could walk down the middle of Park Avenue, which is one of the busiest avenues in the city. Walking along the empty streets were some of my most isolating times.

Although the streets were empty, hand-made signs started to pop up all over the city, these signs offered comfort and community from afar. To me, these signs symbolized the strength and unity of the city. New York State records more COVID-19 cases than any other country (besides U.S.).

The famous “Naked Cowboy” greets another individual pushing a cart labeled “corpse cart” using the new elbow covid high-five. I never particularly enjoyed Times Square, nor would I have gone out of my way to see the Naked Cowboy but seeing him in Times Square was slightly comforting (if that says anything about this period

Signs reading “Thank you healthcare workers” have began popping up on billboards and other areas of the city. The signs were meaningful, but nothing could quite top the feeling of the 7pm clapping every evening. The thundering of clapping is something I will ever forget.

For those who have had the opportunity to experience Times Square in all of its glory know that it is anything but quiet and desolate. In the bottom center of the photo there is a sign that reads “embrace the absurd” which seemed to fit the scene. It all seemed so absurd at this time.

The Pandemic was in full swing in New York. Walking to and from the hospital felt like an apocalypse movie. Thousands of people commute through Grand Central Terminal each day and on this day, I was there alone during what would be rush hour. The United States had just reported the most Covid-19 cases in