China: Shanghai's streets last week became quiet as if the city was in a "coma" amid a corona virus outbreak.

The sight of the streets often congested, sidewalks crowded with people and business people rushing to work are no longer happening in Shanghai in recent days. The largest and most vibrant city in China has only deserted streets, closed shops and bars, and a few pedestrians wearing masks on the street. The Bund is no longer in the shadow of street vendors and the Huangpu River is no longer sailing.

Shanghai is in a coma with empty skyscrapers. The tranquility is sometimes only broken by the bell from the 90 meter high clock tower on the 93-year-old Customs Building. As of February 8, the city has recorded 277 cases of a new strain of coronavirus (nCoV) that causes acute pneumonia, one of which has died.

Zhao Feng, 40, and several family members are among the few Shanghai residents in the streets in recent days. "We understand that it's not good, but we have to wear masks to prevent disease. Shanghai is very quiet because everyone has a strong sense of self-protection," Zhao said.

The unusual silence of Shanghai is due in part to the Chinese New Year holidays that lasted more than a week to fight the epidemic. Shanghai residents will return to work on Feb. 10, but many businesses and government agencies have plans for home workers.

Shanghai is not partially or wholly blockaded like many other Chinese cities. However, locals strictly adhere to the warning not to go out unless absolutely necessary by the city government. When out, they tried to nestle close to the sidewalk, away from other people on the street.

The city's metro system and businesses are still open, announcing mandatory service users to wear masks. Nearly every public building has a person with a thermometer to detect people with a fever. The government recommends that people at home exercise or take similar steps to avoid stress from anxiety over death from pneumonia.

Having to spend many days indoors makes Shanghai people so bored that they "get sick". Shanghai's weather has gotten better in recent days, causing many people to rush out to sunbathe, although the city government continues to recommend that "sunbathing does not help kill the nCoV".

Countries with nCoV pneumonia patients. Click on image to see details.

The outbreak of pneumonia caused by nCoV began in Wuhan in December 2019 and spread to 31 provinces in China. 26 countries and territories recorded more than 34,000 cases and 724 deaths, mainly in mainland China, and 2,083 people recovered.

China has issued orders to blockade 17 cities to prevent the corona virus from spreading, including 13 cities in Hubei province and 4 cities in Zhejiang province. Zhejiang Province, located about 800 km from the center of Wuhan, recorded the number of nCoV infections as 1.006, the second highest in China after Hubei province. Zhejiang is located in the southern part of Shanghai city.