The　COVID-19　pandemic　caused　significant　psychological　consequences　among　the　public,　especially　for　people　in　the　epicenter.　This　study　examined　the　＇bull＇s　eye＇　model　by　comparing　the　level　of　psychological　distress　and　the　effect　of　different　stressors　in　Wuhan　(the　original　epicenter)　with　that　in　the　surrounding　areas　in　Hubei　Province　during　the　pandemic.　Data　were　obtained　from　a　cross-national　survey　of　10　478　respondents　between　the　ages　of　18　and　80　years　in　Hubei　Province　during　the　peak　of　the　pandemic.　Results　of　the　ordinary　least　squares　regression　models　showed　that　Wuhan　residents　experienced　more　psychological　distress　than　those　in　the　surrounding　areas.　Social　and　economic　problems　caused　by　the　pandemic,　risk　exposure,　perceived　discrimination,　and　information-seeking　behaviors　were　positively　associated　with　distress.　Social　assistance　was　negatively　associated　with　distress.　Findings　were　consistent　with　the　bull＇s　eye　model　by　revealing　both　a　higher　level　of　psychological　distress　and　a　stronger　effect　of　stressors　among　the　Wuhan　residents　than　with　those　in　low-risk　areas.　Thus,　policymakers　and　psychological　workers　should　provide　adequate　psychological　services　in　high-risk　areas.　Lowering　risk　exposure,　reducing　discrimination　against　people　in　the　epicenter,　and　improving　information　quality　are　essential　to　alleviate　their　psychological　distress.