11 striking photos of the coronavirus pandemic from around the world

From rainbows in windows to church congregations made from photos, here are some images that show how the pandemic is changing our world.

Drawing in the customers

Many cafés and restaurants have been forced to close to curb the spread of the virus. Paper cut-outs of customers are sitting at tables in Eltana café in Seattle, Washington, which is serving take-outs only. The wider Seattle area has become a hotspot of infection.

Preaching to print-outs

Without people to fill his pews, Catholic priest Reginaldo Manzotti conducts a mass to photos of his congregation. A broadcast of the service at Santuario de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe church in Brazil was screened live on television.

Hi-tech connections

Deemed particularly at risk, many elderly people around the world are isolated from their families. Belgian company ZoraBots has made this robot for use in elderly people’s homes, so they can communicate with their loved ones virtually.

From fair to field hospital

Buildings around the world are being transformed into makeshift hospitals and morgues, creating extra capacity during the pandemic. The Serbian military has installed beds in Hall 1 of the Belgrade Fair complex to accommodate people with mild symptoms of COVID-19.

Dancing across the road

Streets and famous landmarks are deserted as cities go into lockdown. Ballet dancer and performer Ashlee Montague dances in an empty Times Square in New York, which has become an epicentre of the disease.

Empty shelves

Panic-buying and stockpiling has led to empty shelves in shops, such as in this UK supermarket.

No-fly zone

Travel restrictions have forced many airlines to ground planes and temporarily close routes. These Delta Air Lines planes are parked up in Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama.

The plight of the homeless

Social distancing and self-isolation is not an option for those living on the streets. This homeless man in London highlights the challenges facing this vulnerable population.

Cleaning the climbing frame

Mass disinfection measures are being taken around the world, with concerns over the coronavirus surviving on surfaces for several hours. Here, municipal workers are disinfecting a children’s play area in Escobedo on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico, as part of a clean-up of public areas.

Praise for medical staff

Widespread support and appreciation for key workers, particularly medical staff, has been on show around the world. Several countries have held coordinated demonstrations of their gratitude with cheering and clapping. Here, a man posts a large 'thank you' to health workers in the nearby Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York City.

A symbol of hope

Messages of hope are also spreading, as people make communal efforts to keep spirits up. People in the UK are following Italy’s lead, displaying rainbows in windows to make passers-by smile.