Stonehenge stood empty on the first day of Spring for the first time in thousands of years yesterday - after druids were banned by the virus.
Hundreds of hippies were expected to descend on the ancient monument to mark the vernal equinox - but many were forced to watch it online.
Since 2000 officials have allowed groups of druids is congregate amid the stones as they have since it was built 5,000 years ago.
But English Heritage - who run Stonehenge - announced it was closing all sites to prevent spreading in the wake of the global pandemic.
Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon backed the decision to axe the event at the prehistoric spot near Amesbury, Wiltshire.
He usually performs the ceremony at Stonehenge, which involves other members of the religious group forming a circle and holding hands.
But he said encouraging such behaviour in the current climate would have been "irresponsible".
Mr Pendragon, 65, said: "I'm didn't say not to go because I agree that it should be closed; I didn't say it because it's dangerous to celebrate.
“The fact they closed it doesn't bother me - but it would have been very irresponsible of me to go against the advice.
“There were still some people advising to turn up at dawn. That's a very irresponsible thing to do.”
Not only with the solstice not be celebrated - public celebrations of all kinds have been banned from today with the government ordering all pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes to close.
