NewsBite

In pictures: Third lockdown since pandemic began renders Adelaide a ghost town

It’s an eerily familiar scene. One most of us had never seen before March 2020 and hoped we’d never have to see again - a city grinding to an almost complete stop.

But as authorities work quickly to try to arrest the spread of the fast-moving Covid-19 Delta variant, South Australia has been forced into a major lockdown for the third time since the global pandemic began.

Our photographers have been venturing out to capture the scene in a city that, less than a week ago, was enjoying the spoils of a virtually-Covid-free lifestyle, cheering their team on at packed football ovals or enjoying the many winter festivals that were, but no longer are, in full swing.

As our cameras show, while usually-busy streets and malls are now all-but-deserted, the only real signs of life to be found are at our many Covid-testing facilities, where anxious South Australians sit idly in their cars, some of them for up to 24 hours, for the dreaded swab.

Besides a handful of essential workers, deployed to keep the city ticking over, you’ll find the only real sliver of normalcy in our parks and public spaces, where people have been exercising their precious right to... well, exercise - both body and soul.

Jetty Rd, Glenelg betwen 2pm-3pm on Thursday. Picture: Keryn Stevens
Jetty Rd, Glenelg betwen 2pm-3pm on Thursday. Picture: Keryn Stevens
Exercise is allowed under the lockdown but this Glenelg exercise area was totally empty on Thursday afternoon.. Picture: Keryn Stevens
Exercise is allowed under the lockdown but this Glenelg exercise area was totally empty on Thursday afternoon.. Picture: Keryn Stevens
Rundle Road devoid of cars at 3pm on Thursday, July 22. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
Rundle Road devoid of cars at 3pm on Thursday, July 22. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
During Fringe time it’s one of the busiest parts of town. Today? Rundle Street is quiet and lifeless. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
During Fringe time it’s one of the busiest parts of town. Today? Rundle Street is quiet and lifeless. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
A man retrieves empty bottles from a bin on Rundle Street on Thursday, July 22.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
A man retrieves empty bottles from a bin on Rundle Street on Thursday, July 22.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
A lone pedestrian in Rundle Mall on Thursday, July 22. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
A lone pedestrian in Rundle Mall on Thursday, July 22. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
An installation for the Illuminate Adelaide Festival on North Terrace. Thursday, July 22. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
An installation for the Illuminate Adelaide Festival on North Terrace. Thursday, July 22. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe
Where is the love? A quiet afternoon in Glenelg on day two of the SA lockdown. Picture: Keryn Stevens
Where is the love? A quiet afternoon in Glenelg on day two of the SA lockdown. Picture: Keryn Stevens
A woman carries drinks in a quiet, largely lifeless Glenelg on Thursday afternoon. Picture: Keryn Stevens.
A woman carries drinks in a quiet, largely lifeless Glenelg on Thursday afternoon. Picture: Keryn Stevens.
A couple out for a stroll between Glenelg and Brighton after 3pm on Thursday. Picture: Keryn Stevens.
A couple out for a stroll between Glenelg and Brighton after 3pm on Thursday. Picture: Keryn Stevens.
A sign of encouragement between Glenelg and Brighton on Thursday. Picture: Keryn Stevens
A sign of encouragement between Glenelg and Brighton on Thursday. Picture: Keryn Stevens
King William Street, 8.30am on Wedneday, July 21. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Street, 8.30am on Wedneday, July 21. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Street, 8.30am Wednesday July 21. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Street, 8.30am Wednesday July 21. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Street, 8.30am, Wednesday, July 21. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Street, 8.30am, Wednesday, July 21. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
Waymouth St, around 8.30am on Wednesday, day 1 of the lockdown Picture: Tricia Watkinson
Waymouth St, around 8.30am on Wednesday, day 1 of the lockdown Picture: Tricia Watkinson
Customers and staff at the Telstra shop in Rundle Mall on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
Customers and staff at the Telstra shop in Rundle Mall on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
King William Street, 8.30am on Wednesday. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Street, 8.30am on Wednesday. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Street, 8.30am Wednesday, July 21. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Street, 8.30am Wednesday, July 21. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
Waymouth Street on Wednesday morning. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
Waymouth Street on Wednesday morning. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Road at 8.15am on Wednesday. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
King William Road at 8.15am on Wednesday. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
North Terrace on Wednesday.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz.
North Terrace on Wednesday.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz.
Police stand guard outside the Pullman medi-hotel on Wednesday.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
Police stand guard outside the Pullman medi-hotel on Wednesday.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
A vancant Rundle Mall on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
A vancant Rundle Mall on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
North Tce. Wednesday, July 21. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
North Tce. Wednesday, July 21. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
Rundle Mall. Wednesday, July 21. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
Rundle Mall. Wednesday, July 21. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
A bus heads down an otherwise empty North Tce on Wednesday, July 21. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
A bus heads down an otherwise empty North Tce on Wednesday, July 21. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
Some masked women speaking outside the Nespresso store in Rundle Mall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
Some masked women speaking outside the Nespresso store in Rundle Mall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
A man walks across an empty King William Street on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
A man walks across an empty King William Street on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
A woman walks along the Torrrens Footbridge on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
A woman walks along the Torrrens Footbridge on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
A small number of people walking past the Town Hall on King William St on Wednesday morning. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
A small number of people walking past the Town Hall on King William St on Wednesday morning. Picture: Tricia Watkinson
A near-deserted Victoria Square, fifteen minutes before the 6pm lockdown on Tuesday July 20. Picture Mark Brake.
A near-deserted Victoria Square, fifteen minutes before the 6pm lockdown on Tuesday July 20. Picture Mark Brake.
A near-deserted top of Victoria Square, looking north up King William Street, ten minutes before the 6pm lockdown Tuesday, July 20. Picture Mark Brake
A near-deserted top of Victoria Square, looking north up King William Street, ten minutes before the 6pm lockdown Tuesday, July 20. Picture Mark Brake
A near-deserted Victoria Square, fifteen minutes before the 6pm lockdown on Tuesday evening. Picture Mark Brake.
A near-deserted Victoria Square, fifteen minutes before the 6pm lockdown on Tuesday evening. Picture Mark Brake.
Adelaide Crows player, Daniel Talia exercising on Unley Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Sarah Reed.
Adelaide Crows player, Daniel Talia exercising on Unley Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Sarah Reed.
Adelaide Crows player, Daniel Talia exercising on Unley Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Sarah Reed
Adelaide Crows player, Daniel Talia exercising on Unley Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Sarah Reed
A woman and child exercising at Unley Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Sarah Reed
A woman and child exercising at Unley Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Sarah Reed
A man jogs at Unley Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Sarah Reed
A man jogs at Unley Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Sarah Reed
Huge queues for testing at Victoria Park on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
Huge queues for testing at Victoria Park on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
A health worker prepares to administer a test at Victoria Park on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
A health worker prepares to administer a test at Victoria Park on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
Victoria Park testing clinic on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
Victoria Park testing clinic on Wednesday. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
An aerial image shows the huge line up for testing at Victoria Park on Wednesday July 21, 2021. Photo: Roy Van Der Vegt
An aerial image shows the huge line up for testing at Victoria Park on Wednesday July 21, 2021. Photo: Roy Van Der Vegt
Cars lined up at Victoria Park, the queue snaking down Greenhill, Fullarton roads and Wakefield roads. Picture Sarah Reed.
Cars lined up at Victoria Park, the queue snaking down Greenhill, Fullarton roads and Wakefield roads. Picture Sarah Reed.
Cars line up at the Covid-10 testing clinic at Victoria Park Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
Cars line up at the Covid-10 testing clinic at Victoria Park Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz
A long line up of cars waits for testing at Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide at about 7.20am on Wednesday, July 21. Picture Dean Martin
A long line up of cars waits for testing at Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide at about 7.20am on Wednesday, July 21. Picture Dean Martin
The covid-19 testing site at Victoria Park on July 21, 2021 in Adelaide. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
The covid-19 testing site at Victoria Park on July 21, 2021 in Adelaide. Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.
A long line of drivers queues up at the Covid testing site at Hart's Mill, Port Adelaide on Wednesday morning 21 July 2021. Picture: Dean Martin
A long line of drivers queues up at the Covid testing site at Hart's Mill, Port Adelaide on Wednesday morning 21 July 2021. Picture: Dean Martin

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/coronavirus/in-pictures-third-lockdown-since-pandemic-began-renders-adelaide-a-ghost-town/news-story/34e08a701c5fa35a3a7695cffba0ad59