Empty Media City after Lockdown 3.0 is announced

MediaCity is looking very different in lockdown with mainly deserted walkways, restaurants, shops and offices as our picture gallery reveals.

On Tuesday January 5 , Boris Johnson announced a national lockdown, telling everyone to stay at home to try and control the virus. Places such as Media City have been forced to close or operate on a skeleton staff until further notice, leaving them a ‘ghost town’.

On 3rd January, 454 deaths had been reported and by 4th January, there was 26,626 corona virus patients in hospital in England.

Covid-19

Reason you can go out

Shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person

Go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home

Exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area

Meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one

Seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)

Attend education or childcare - for those eligible

All non-essential retail, hospitality and personal care service must close, meaning the majority of Media City had to close.

Paula Whittaker, 42, used to go to Media City with her grandchildren when they stayed with her.

She said: “I’ve always loved going to Media City, it’s so beautiful and there’s so much to do. It’s a great place to take your family, which is what I used to do with my grandchildren. Since the tier system and the new lockdown however, it’s just not the same. It’s like a ghost town”.

The current lockdown is due to last until March, with the Prime Minister reviewing the situation in February.