Pictures reveal world reopening after sweeping coronavirus lockdowns

They were once empty beaches, bars and streets, but as Australia prepares to open up, pictures reveal the rest of the world is already in full swing.

They were once empty beaches, bars and streets, but as Australia prepares to open up, the rest of the world is already well and truly in full swing.

Just over 12 months ago most parts of the globe, from the crystal clear beaches in Brazil’s Cocoa Coast to the streets of Amman, Jordan, were thrown into lockdown as the novel coronavirus began to take hold.

Since then, Covid-19 has killed at least 4,636,530 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019 and infected at least 225,185,240. The World Health Organisation estimates that the overall toll could be two to three times higher than official records.

The vast majority have recovered, however, but research has shown some have continued to experience symptoms weeks or even months later.

Yet despite this, photographs from Portugal to Paris, to Long Beach and London, show that even with high Covid-19 cases in many countries including the UK and US, retail is open, tourism is returning, business is booming and in some areas, restrictions, masks and lockdowns are becoming a forgotten thought.

People having picnics on Monday as double vaccinated residents are allowed to gather in five or more outdoors at Bondi Beach in Sydney. It’s a different story across the rest of the world though. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The UK has one of the highest death tolls in the world but has since revealed it will ditch lockdowns and some restrictions as crowds and shoppers return to London.

Sport has returned to the United States and Europe and even Elvis has found an ingenious way to keep business booming in Vegas. High vaccination rates and the summer season in the northern hemisphere has helped keep rates at bay but hospitalisations are still worryingly high.

Among the hardest hit countries are those the United States with 1554 new deaths, followed by Russia with 781 and Malaysia with 413.

The US is the worst-affected country with 662,131 deaths from 41,221,315 cases, but Brazil, India and Mexico follow closely.

So, after a world of relative quiet, what does it look like now?

Brazil – September, 2020

People enjoy the weather at Barra de Guaratiba in Rio de Janeiro. At the time, Brazil had over 4.300.000 positive cases and more than 131,600 deaths. Picture: Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Brazil – May, 2021

People visit the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery on Mother's Day, in Manaus, Amazonas State. Cemeteries in Brazil opened for the first time for the general public since the start of the pandemic and deaths remain stubbornly high, with 587,066 deaths from 21,006,424 cases in the most recent reporting period. Picture: Michael Dantas / AFP

New York, January 2021

Confetti flies in the air on a mostly empty Times Square for New Year’s Eve. Due to the coronavirus outbreak Times Square was closed to all but a few revellers. Picture: Corey Sipkin / AFP

New York, August, 2021

People gather in Central Park for the "We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert" during an outbreak in Manhattan. Picture: Reuters/Andrew Kelly

New York, September, 2021

People prepare to watch a movie at Nighthawk Cinema in the Park Slope neighbourhood of Brooklyn in New York City. NYC became the first U.S. city to start a transition period for proof of at least one dose of the vaccine for workers and customers in order to participate in indoor dining and other activities. Picture: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Las Vegas, July, 2020

Elvis Presley impersonator and chapel co-owner Brendan Paul performs a live wedding vow renewal ceremony using Zoom for a couple from Texas celebrating their 50th anniversary. The chapel, which originated Elvis-themed weddings in 1977, was open for in-person weddings with groups of up to 20 people in the same party but began offering the world's first virtual Elvis-themed vow renewal and commitment ceremonies for people all over the world who are unable to travel because of the pandemic. Couples can invite up to 100 guests to watch their ceremony live via Zoom. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Las Vegas, August, 2020

Visitors walk in front of the deserted MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. At the time MGM Resorts International laid 18,000 employees as the resort industry struggles to recover from the pandemic. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Las Vegas, September, 2021

Video screens display a message about required mask wearing after Covid-19 vaccinations during a game between the Eastern Washington Eagles and the UNLV Rebels at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Long Beach, California, May, 2020

A person bikes despite the bike path being closed on the first day Los Angeles County allowed beaches to reopen after a six-week closure implemented to stop the spread. The County only allowed activities such as running, walking, swimming and surfing with sunbathing and volleyball not allowed. Picture: Valerie Macon / AFP

Long Beach, California, September, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at a crowded rally in support of California Gov. Gavin Newsom at Long Beach City College on the eve of a recall election. Picture: David McNew/Getty Images

London, January, 2021

A lone woman takes a picture in a deserted Trafalgar Square. For the third time, England was asked by PM Boris Johnson to remain at home for a nationwide lockdown due to a spike in cases across the country. A new high of 60,000 were reported in a single day. Picture: Alex McBride/Getty Images

London, August, 2021

Festival-goers watch British rapper AJ Tracey perform on stage at Reading Festival. As Covid-19 infection levels rise across the country, vaccines were offered to revellers throughout the weekend. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/ AFP

The organiser of Reading and Leeds Festivals said such events are arguably "safer places to be" because attendees have been tested for Covid-19. The festivals returned this year with headliners including Stormzy. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/ AFP

London, September, 2021

People watch a street performer in Covent Garden. Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images

Crowds have returned as people eat outside in Covent Garden. Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images

Rome, Italy, October, 2020

An employee cleans up a table on an empty terrace at Piazza Navona square before a night-time virus curfew entered into force in the Lazio region as a measure against the spread. Picture: Filippo Monteforte

Turin, Italy, September, 2021

An attendant waits to check the body temperature of passengers boarding a high-speed "Frecciarossa" train at the Porta Nuova railway station in Turin. Since early August, Italy has required proof of vaccination, recent recovery from coronavirus or a negative test for people wanting to dine indoors or enter museums and sports events. Picture: Marco Bertorello / AFP

An inspector (L) checks a passenger boarding the train, for his so-called Green Pass. Picture: Marco Bertorello / AFP

But not all are happy. People hold a silent protest against the so-called Green Pass vaccination passport outside the Porta Nuova railway. Picture: Marco Bertorello / AFP

Lisbon, Portugal, November, 2020

A man rides a bicycle past an empty square in downtown Lisbon. The Portuguese government at the time held an extraordinary ministers' council to decide on concrete measures to fight the spread. Picture: Patricia De Melo Moreira / AFP

Lisbon, Portugal, September, 2021

Two girls drive a scooter in front of Rua Augusta arch in downtown Lisbon on the same day Portugal ended the Covid-19 measure of mandatory use of mask in the streets. Picture: Patricia De Melo Moreira / AFP

Health officials in the country said people should still carry a mask with them at all times. Picture: Patricia De Melo Moreira / AFP

Athens, Greece, March, 2020

An empty stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League first leg of round-of-16 football match between Olympiakos FC and Wolves at the Karaiskakis Stadium, in Piraeus. The match was held behind closed doors due to the spread of Covid. Picture: Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP

Athens, Greece, September, 2021

Cheered among crowds, Finland's Kalle Rovanpera with his co-driver Jonne Halttunen compete with their Toyota Yaris RC1 WRC during the opening stage of the Acropolis Rally in Athens. Picture: Valerie Gache / AFP

Britain's Elfyn Evans with his co-driver Scott Martin under the ancient Acropolis hill. Picture: Aris Messinis / AFP

People queue to pay respect to the late Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral on September 6. His body lay in state for 2 days. Picture: Louisa Gouliamaki/ AFP

Agra, India, March, 2020

A low number of tourists are seen at Taj Mahal amid concerns over the spread. Picture: Pawan Sharma / AFP

India, April, 20201

A mass cremation of victims who died from complications related to coronavirus at a crematorium ground in New Delhi. Picture: REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

New Delhi, India, September, 2021

After a surge which saw India in crisis, passengers wait in crowds at a railway station in New Delhi. Picture: Prakash Singh / AFP

Tourism returns. Tourists travel in a coach of the Jungle Tea Safari service of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's (DHR) narrow gauge locomotive, also known as the 'Toy Train' after the service resumed that was earlier suspended in the wake of the pandemic. Picture: Diptendu Dutta / AFP

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October, 2020

A health worker stands inside a non-contact chamber called the "CoV SHIELD" before taking swab test samples at Sunway Medical Center in Subang Jaya. Picture: Mohd Rasfan / AFP

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August, 2021

A medical heath worker (right) provides consultation and instruction to Andrew Ro (centre) and his housemate (left) during a door-to-door medical visitation. After a year marred by arrests and outbursts of anti-foreigner rhetoric, migrants and refugees are wary to seek Malaysia's government healthcare services in fear of they will be arrested or detained. Picture: Annice Lyn/Getty Images

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September, 2021

A customer waits to buy chicken meat at a wet market September 1. Picture: Mohd Rasfan / AFP