In pics | Thousands of tulips cut down in Japan to discourage crowds amid coronavirus outbreak

As the coronavirus disease has spread all over the world, people are asked to stay home and maintain social distancing to stop COVID-19 transmission. (Image: Reuters)

To combat the outbreak, officials in Sakura city of Japan mowed the tulip beds and cancelled the annual tulip festival to stop people from congregating amid coronavirus emergency. (Image: Reuters)

To comply with social distancing norms to help control coronavirus, a park razed more than 100,000 tulips to discourage flower lovers. The cut flowers were later donated to kindergartens. (Image: Reuters)

Stalks of tulips lie on the ground in the Sakura Furusato Square after over 100,000 tulips were cut off to avoid people visiting, following the coronavirus disease. (Image: Reuters)

The authorities took the drastic measure after the park saw a large number of visitors in the weekend when the flowers were in bloom. (Image: Reuters)

A field which was once blossomed by tulips was left empty after the flowers were razed to avoid crowds as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 outbreak. (Image: Reuters)

Despite the absence of tulip gardens at this time of year, the park is drawing a smattering of visitors. (Image: Reuters)

The unfortunate action to cut down tulips disheartened the visitors but was needed to help the nation fight the pandemic. (Image: Reuters)