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Southeast Missourian

Photographic musings from the early days of COVID-19 in Cape Girardeau

Ben Matthews
Saturday, September 12, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home orders forced local businesses to temporarily close and residents to adjust to life indoors, the atmosphere around downtown Cape Girardeau drastically changed. This series of photos, captured from mid-March to early May, shows the desolate downtown area during this time and the sporadic, everyday, human moments of relaxation, compassion and companionship which may have gone unnoticed amid the early days of the pandemic.

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    Main Street Station owner Ron Taylor provides free meals outside of his shop Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Taylor said he began providing the meals in mid-March and served more than 4,000 free plates by the end of May. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    A young man pedals a bicycle west on Broadway as another young man standing on the bicycle's rear spokes holds onto the cyclist's shoulders Tuesday, April 21, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    A skater performs a trick at the intersection of Broadway and Main streets Tuesday, April 14, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Gabriele Ruggieri and his son, Lorenzo, kick a soccer ball in an empty parking lot at the corner of Broadway and Main streets Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    A cloudy sunset hangs above a deserted parking lot at the corner of Broadway and Main streets as seen from the second-story window of an apartment Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Michael Gibbs tows a skateboarder through the intersection of Themis and North Fountain streets early Wednesday evening, April 1, 2020, in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Bobby Spencer surprises Kadence Lawrence with a kiss on the cheek while walking through Arena Park on Thursday, April 2, 2020, as Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation crews close playgrounds and basketball courts in the area due to COVID-19. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    An angler casts his line into Sloan Creek on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    A mallard walks along the edge of the sidewalk at Riverfront Park on Monday, May 18, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    Broadway is seen devoid of traffic Sunday, April 26, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
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    The word "ALONE" is seen carved into tree near Fountain Park on Saturday, May 2, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)