Although the pneumonia epidemic has not yet spread to Changsha, the locals are still bewildered and believe that sooner or later they will be blocked.

Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China, home to 11 million people, has been frozen since Jan. 23 after an outbreak of acute pneumonia caused by a new strain of the corona family (nCoV) started there. Non-essential vehicles are prohibited from circulation in the city center. More than 10 other localities of Hubei Province were also closed.

Changsha City in the neighboring province of Hunan, about 355 km from Wuhan, remains out of the reach of the disease, while local governments are trying to prevent the virus from spreading. However, the people here are not afraid and prepare for a blockade in the next few days.

"First of all I am worried about myself, because I may be infected with the virus. I am also worried about the people of Hubei Province," said Wang Junnan, an aviation worker in Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province. Changsha about an hour, said.

"All I can do is wear a mask whenever I can," the 23-year-old added. A nearby pharmacy said it had sold most of its masks, leaving only the "cheaper and less effective" category.

Nearly 2,000 people have been confirmed to be infected with the nCoV virus and 56 have died in China, with most cases in Hubei province. The disease has also spread to many countries such as Thailand, Japan, Korea, USA, Singapore, Nepal, France and Vietnam. The source of the new strain of the virus is thought to be from wildlife in the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan.

Although the blockade was applied and many crowded events were canceled, people said they expected the government to take tougher measures soon.

"I read in the newspaper that someone was arrested when trying to leave Hubei to get to Hunan by calling through the Didi booking app. They should be arrested," Wang said. "Those measures are heavy, but they are necessary."

Hotel staff in Changsha said they received instructions not to allow anyone from Hubei province to make a reservation.

"Why does death scare me? I'm still not dead," said a 71-year-old nun outside Changsha railway station.