Wuhan resident's vlog shows empty roads and shops

Lin Wenhua, a resident of the city of Wuhan, is at the epicentre of a new viral outbreak that's killed 56 people so far.

After the government shut down transportation in the city, Lin began recording videos to chronicle daily life in a city shut off from the world.

Over 600 cases have been confirmed in Wuhan alone and 40 people pronounced dead.

On the third day of lockdown, Wuhan's usually bustling streets, malls and other public spaces were unnervingly quiet, and masks were mandatory in public.

Shoppers emptied store shelves, stocking up for what could be an extended period of isolation.

Hospitals in Wuhan have been grappling with a flood of patients and a lack of supplies.

Authorities in Wuhan and further afield have put out calls for medicine, disinfection equipment, masks, goggles, gowns and other protective gear.

There are now over 2,000 confirmed cases of the virus so far, leading to anxiety across China as people rush out to buy masks and disinfectants.

Governments across the world are on alert as cases have been found in Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the US, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, France and Australia.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called the outbreak a grave situation, and the government has stepped up efforts to restrict travel and public gatherings whilst rushing medical staff and supplies to Wuhan, which remains on lockdown.

China cut off trains, planes and other links to Wuhan on Wednesday, as well as public transportation within the city, and has steadily expanded a lockdown to 16 surrounding cities with a combined population of more than 50 million — greater than that of New York, London, Paris and Moscow combined.

Wuhan banned most vehicle use, including private cars, in downtown areas starting Sunday.

The city will assign 6,000 taxis to neighbourhoods to help people get around if they need to.

Wuhan plans to build a second makeshift hospital with around 1,000 beds to handle the growing number of patients.

The city has said another hospital is expected to be completed Feb. 3.