On any other Friday night, Last Call Sports Grill’s parking lot would be full with patrons lining the bar, racking pool tables and enjoying the bar’s social atmosphere until 2 a.m. But, two weeks after Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba issued an executive order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, bars like Last Call Sports Grill, nightclubs and restaurants were mostly empty Friday night. The executive order prohibits gatherings of 10 or more people, closes bars and limits restaurant access. Social businesses in neighboring towns like Ridgeland were also disarranged with emptiness. These images were taken March 27 between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., normally the time crowds start igniting Jackson’s nightlife. 

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  • A woman stands in front of the fountain at Renaissance at Colony Park at 7:30 p.m., 30 minutes before closing, Friday, March 27, 2020. Usually, at this time customers would be making last purchases and browsing. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Only 30 minutes before closing, no vehicles are parked in front of stores and only a couple of people stroll the sidewalks at Colony Park in Ridgeland, Miss., Friday, March 27, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • A vacant area nearly half an hour before closing at Colony Park in Ridgeland, Miss., Friday, March 27, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Two men walk past Brooks Brothers at Colony Park in Ridgeland, Miss., Friday, March 27, 2020. The store has been temporarily closed due to the coronavirus measures. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Fondren Place photographed at 7:45 p.m. in Jackson, Miss. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • The parking lot at Northpark, photographed at 7:56 p.m., in Ridgeland, Miss., Friday, March 27, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Vacant sidewalks at Cultivation Food Hall near 8:30 p.m. in Jackson, Miss., Friday, March 27, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Duling Avenue at 8:49 p.m. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Johnny T’s Bistro & Blues at 9:23 p.m on Friday, March 27, 2020. The establishment usually closes at 3 a.m. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Freelons Restaurant Bar & Groove at 9:36 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2020. On Friday’s, the entertainment venue usually stays open until 4 a.m. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • 4th Avenue Lounge at 9:43 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Fenian’s Pub on East Fortification Street. Photographed at 9:54 p.m. The pub usually closes at 2 a.m. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • One person sits in the parking lot Cultivation Food Hall at 8:29 p.m. in Jackson, Miss., Friday, March 27, 2020. The food hall usually closes at 10 p.m. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • One person sits inside of Last Call Sports Grill at 10:17 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Last Call Sports Grill photographed at 10:14 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
  • Last Call Sports Grill at 10:18 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

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Eric J. Shelton was a 2018 corps member in Report for America, and joined the team as our first photojournalist. A native of Columbia, Miss., Eric earned his bachelor’s in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a multimedia journalist for Abilene Reporter-News, chief photographer for the Hattiesburg American and photo editor for the Killeen Daily Herald before joining our team June 2018. He rejoined Mississippi Today as our health photojournalist in January 2022.