New York City bore the brunt of the early COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. What seemed like a distant worry in January became daily headline news by March, with the virus’ spread gripping TV viewers and news readers. The city that never sleeps became eerily quiet except for the sirens of ambulances. As the city’s health professionals took control of the virus and its residents sacrificed to stop the spread, a sense of normalcy has slowly returned, but the city has changed in some ways.
For months I have walked around Manhattan taking photos of the city’s windows, showing through their bareness or normality how the pandemic has affected this town. Even the stores that are still open show what has changed: mannequins wear masks matching their outfits as passers-by wear their own protective cloths. While many stores have closed temporarily or for good, there are also businesses that are pushing through this challenge to survive.