Sydney’s CBD all but empty as NSW records 112 Covid-19 cases

A series of pictures taken in and around a near-empty Sydney CBD shows the seriousness of the city’s Covid-19 outbreak.

Harrowing images show the grim reality that Sydney's CBD has woken up alone.

As Greater Sydney recorded 112 new positive cases on Monday, the streets of the CBD were all but deserted as the message to stay home appeared to have finally hit home.

At George St, light rail carriages ran with almost no one on them, while pedestrian hubs along the city’s main artery, such as the Queen Victoria Building and Haymarket, were a ghost town.

Only a handful of mask-wearing Sydneysiders – essential workers, construction staff and CBD residents – could be seen walking around.

George St was a ghost town on Monday but for essential workers. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

The area around George St’s light rail was near-empty. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

Queen Victoria Building on George St had few people about. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

A CBD light rail carriage shows only one person riding. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

Train carriages and stations were also abandoned in and around the city.

At Central Station, only transport workers and a select few passengers could be seen on the platforms.

Inside the trains, most carriages contained less than two commuters.

Central Station was nearly empty. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

Carriages had no more than two people inside them. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

Haymarket was devastatingly quiet. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

Sydney’s lockdown is expected to be extended by several weeks. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

School students and a lone walker were the only people seen on the steps from Town Hall Station into the QVB. Picture: Jeremy Piper / NCA NewsWire

Martin Place, one of the busiest spots in Sydney’s CBD, was completely empty.

Further up Elizabeth St, Hyde Park, which would normally have a large number of people soaking up the nice weather that greeted Sydney on Monday, was totally vacant.

Plenty of cafes in the CBD were closed, while those that were open had only a handful of customers waiting for takeaway coffees.

Even the outskirts of the CBD were empty, with the usually pedestrian-laden Broadway shopping area completely devoid of foot traffic.

Sydney is expected to remain empty for several weeks, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian acknowledging lockdown is all but guaranteed to be extended beyond Friday.

“Given where the numbers are it is not likely, in fact, almost impossible, for us to get out of lockdown on Friday, but we will be able to provide you further information as soon as that comes to hand,” she said on Monday.