Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza was empty in the middle of the afternoon on March 17. Photo: Pete Rosos

Berkeleyside contributing photographer Pete Rosos ventured out in Berkeley on Tuesday, the day after the Bay Area shelter-in-place order came down, to document what a city on lockdown looks like. The provision of news, like the provision of food, is classified as an essential service while the order in in effect, so Rosos was within his rights to be out and about. But, of course, he practiced social distancing as he came upon empty streets and shuttered “non-essential” businesses, as well as people working and volunteering to help the community in these difficult times.

Social distancing on Lower Sproul Plaza at UC Berkeley. Photo: Pete Rosos
AC Transit buses are among the few vehicles that can be seen on Shattuck during the day. Photo: Pete Rosos
An empty Telegraph Avenue. Photo: Pete Rosos
Goorin Bros. Hat shop with its closure announcement posted on the door March 17. Photo Pete Rosos
Traffic was sparse in the streets of Berkeley on March 17. Photo: Pete Rosos
Traffic was sparse in the streets of Berkeley on March 17. Photo: Pete Rosos
A customer emerges from La Farine bakery on College Avenue which is open for limited hours and under strict guidelines, such as no outside seating. Photo: Pete Rosos
A customer emerges from La Farine bakery on College Avenue which is open for limited hours and under strict guidelines, such as no outside seating. Photo: Pete Rosos
Inside the very closed Rouge Mark Studios on Ashby Avenue in Berkeley on March 17. Photo: Pete Rosos
Inside the very closed Rouge Mark Studios on Ashby Avenue in Berkeley on March 17. Photo: Pete Rosos
The line outside Berkeley Bowl East shortly before 9 a.m. on March 17. The store's new hours are 10 a.m to 7 p.m. Photo: Pete Rosos
The line outside Berkeley Bowl East shortly before 9 a.m. on March 17. The store’s new hours are 10 a.m to 7 p.m. Photo: Pete Rosos
Signs and tape let people know that the seating area at Whole Foods on Telegraph Avenue is closed off on March 17 in Berkeley. Photo: Pete Rosos
Signs and tape let people know that the seating area at Whole Foods on Telegraph Avenue is closed off. Photo: Pete Rosos
All branches of the Berkeley Public Library are closed. Photo: Pete Rosos
No one in sight at the Downtown Berkeley BART entrance. Photo: Pete Rosos
Jeff of Smoke Berkeley sits and waits for takeout customers in Spats. Photo: Pete Rosos
Plenty of parking on Harold Way in downtown Berkeley. Photo: Pete Rosos
Maryam Bloori and Parsa Elahi of Emilia Flowers trying to survive through the shelter-in-place order. Photo: Pete Rosos
An empty Peet’s Coffee on Vine Street in North Berkeley. Photo: Pete Rosos
Anna and Edward of Seoul Hotdog waiting for takeout customers. Photo: Pete Rosos
An almost deserted Hearst food court in North Berkeley. Photo: Pete Rosos
A medical mask placed over the nose of the smilodon statue in front of McCone Hall at UC Berkeley. Photo: Pete Rosos
Mike, a homeless man who lives on the corner of Shattuck and Dwight, said he was staying put on March 17. Photo: Pete Rosos
The Basic Needs Food Pantry at Cal helps students get food on an almost empty Lower Sproul Plaza. Photo: Pete Rosos
A lone student sits and eats lunch on the steps of Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus. Photo: Pete Rosos
A Kiwibot “delivery doctor” gets stuck in a store’s gate. Photo: Pete Rosos
The Durant food court during lunch hour. Photo: Pete Rosos
Moe’s Books is closed for at least the next two and a half weeks. Photo: Pete Rosos
Daiki Saito of Kiraku is frantically shifting the restaurant's business model to takeout as a way of keeping the money flowing. Photo: Pete Rosos
Daiki Saito of Kiraku is frantically shifting the restaurant’s business model to takeout as a way of keeping the money flowing. Photo: Pete Rosos
Customers wait for their takeout orders at Gypsy’s Trattoria. Photo: Pete Rosos
Rasputin records on Telegraph Avenue, like most businesses, is closed. Photo: Pete Rosos

Pete Rosos has been a regular contributor to Berkeleyside since 2012 and has worked as a freelance photographer for well over a decade. He shoots mainly digital, but still has a use for, and love of, film...