WATCH: What is coronavirus?
By Jesse Convertino & Phaedra Singelis
As the novel coronavirus—named COVID-19—has spread globally, popular tourist destinations have seen a steep drop in visitation, either by local mandate or concern over possible transmission in crowded spaces.
Saudi Arabia decided on Friday to reopen two of the most holy religious sites in Islam in Mecca and Medina since they were closed to visitors for sterilization, according to state TV. Saudi Arabia to date has at least five cases of COVID-19.
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In a series of stark photos, some tourist sites are nearly vacant from a year ago since COVID-19 has generated public health concerns across the world.
Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy
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Tourists fill the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy, April 20, 2019.
Andrew Medichini/AP
A woman wearing a mask poses for photos at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, in Rome, March 5, 2020, during the coronavirus outbreak.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
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Tourists visit the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, March 16, 2019.
Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP via Getty Images
Tourists visit Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, March 5, 2020, during the coronavirus outbreak.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea
Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Tourists take photos as they visit Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul, Oct.24, 2016.
Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images
Visitors wearing face masks, amid concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, walk through a courtyard of Gyeongbokgung palace in central Seoul on March 6, 2020.
Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
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Tourists pose for a selfie photograph at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, March 4, 2018.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Security officials wear face masks as they march in formation near Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Jan. 27, 2020, during the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
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Muslim pilgrims walk around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, Feb. 27, 2020.
Ganoo Essa/Reuters
General view of Kaaba at the Grand Mosque which is almost empty of worshippers, after Saudi authority suspended umrah (Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) amid the fear of coronavirus outbreak, at Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, March 6, 2020.