Pandemic in Boston: scenes of a deserted city

A lone pedestrian passes through Dewey Square at 9 a.m. BANNER PHOTO

A cyclist rides on deserted Chinatown Streets at 9:15. BANNER PHOTO

Covered up in Copley Square at 8:15. BANER PHOTO

Shops closed at 8:50 in Downtown Crossing. BANNER PHOTO

A line in front of the St. Francis House homeless shelter on Essex Street at 8:30. BANNER PHOTO

South Station’s doorways were mostly empty as the M.B.T.A. reduced service on most lines. BANNER PHOTO

At 9 a.m. in Dewey Square, commuters normally stream out of South Station, competing with crawling auto traffic as they head to downtown office towers. Monday, the scene downtown was eerily quiet with lone commuters traversing empty expanses of pavement. In Downtown Crossing at 8:45, Washington, Winter and Summer streets were desolate, with storefronts darkened and few pedestrians. Normally busy even on holidays, Chinatown was bereft of cars and pedestrians.