As the COVID pandemic rages on, Toronto, like most cities, is nearly unrecognizable. The virus, and subsequent health measures put in place to ease its spread, has driven people from the once crowded and vibrant streets.
With 6,448 total cases, of which, 4,137 have recovered and 469 have died, Toronto health officials continue to encourage residents to avoid populous places and large group gatherings to ease the spread of the virus.
As a result, city streets are now eerily empty, a sad reminder of how powerful this deadly virus is and why we all need to do our part in order to get things back to normal.
READ: Toronto Has Become an Eerie Ghost Town as a Result of Social Distancing (PHOTOS)
While we've already shown you how desolate and empty the city looks under lockdown through photos shared online by residents, a local cinematographer has also managed to capture the city we know and love – only through a different medium.
Perhaps it's because Schumann Violin Concerto in D Minor, WoO 23 - 3 performed by Joshua Bell of The Cleveland Orchestra is playing in the background, or perhaps it's the cinematic-quality shots of the city, but this brief and powerful video truly seems to encapsulate how Toronto feels amid the COVID pandemic.
The video shows that most residents are taking the advice of health officials and the government seriously as various Toronto landmarks including Yonge-Dundas Square, surrounding streets, local parks and playgrounds, and the TTC appear to be barren, while very few cars appear on the roads and even fewer people are on the sidewalks — with the exception of some people grocery shopping.
"I was parked in front of the grocery store a few weeks ago putting on gloves and a mask while classical music played on the radio," said cinematographer Stephen Parker. "The entire scene felt surreal and a version of this video played out in my head, so I went out and shot it."
Stephen, of Parker Visuals, did the shooting, editing and sound design for the video all himself, and the end result is incredible.
You can watch the full video below.
