Portland, Oregon is normally a busy, bustling city full of people. Traffic is usually heavy, especially during rush hour, and Portlandians are accustomed to being patient during their commutes (or trying, at least). Right now, the city is all but shut down after Governor Kate Brown issued an executive Stay-At-Home order on March 23rd to try to mitigate the potential damage from the COVID-19 virus.

YouTube user Mike Heinrich shot some eerie footage of Portland’s empty streets in early April, and it shows our largest city like you’ve never seen it before.

Portland is home to more than 657,000 people, and the greater Portland metropolitan area has nearly 3 million residents. The city is usually bustling with commerce and the vibrant energy of its many diverse people.
Mike Heinrich/YouTube
It's a different city right now, however. Like the rest of the state, Portland is under a Stay-At-Home order, which means that people should only leave their homes for essential activities.
Mike Heinrich/YouTube
Oregonians may leave their homes to visit grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, pet stores, gas stations, banks and credit unions, and some retail stores. They may also get takeout or delivery from restaurants and bars, and may engage in outdoor activities such as cycling, jogging, and dog-walking.

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The city is eerily quiet, with almost no traffic at all.
Mike Heinrich/YouTube
This video on YouTube was shot in early April with a drone. It shows just how empty Portland looks right now.

As one woman in the video notes, it's almost silly to wait for traffic lights to change - with almost no traffic, no one is going through the intersection. Here, you can see a lone pedestrian crossing the street.
Mike Heinrich/YouTube
Note: we're certainly not recommending that you cross against the light without making sure that no cars are coming! No one wants to suffer through quarantine with broken limbs, after all.
While the quiet streets can be a bit unsettling, there's also something inspiring about these scenes. One man in the video notes that "you can hear the birds a little bit more," and it's a good sign that people are following the governor's order to keep everyone healthy and safe.
Mike Heinrich/YouTube
Others interviewed said that they're enjoying the calm in the city, and that it's nice to have some time to just reboot and spend time thinking about what's important.

Stay home and stay safe, Oregon! Our communities are strong, and we’re certain to weather this storm if we all work together and do our part to keep the virus from spreading.

We’d love to hear how you’re doing during this difficult time. Share your stories in the comments, and tell us what activities are keeping you happy and busy at home.

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