S. Korea 'very grave', Moon says as coronavirus cases approach 900

vel coronavirus outbreak in South Korea is "very grave", President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday as he visited its epicentre, even as country anunced its smallest rise in cases for several days.

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 60 new cases in its morning update -- after three days of triple-digit increases -- taking tally to 893, largest national total anywhere outside China.

More than 80 percent of infections have been in South Korea's fourth-largest city Daegu and neighbouring rth Gyeongsang province.

" situation is very grave," President Moon Jae-in said on a visit to Daegu, wearing uniform of a government emergency official and vowing full government support.

"We will achieve a victory in fight against this virus," he ded.

streets of Daegu -- which has a population of 2.5 million -- have been largely deserted for days, apart from long queues at few shops with masks for sale.

Authorities urged public to exercise extra caution, vising citizens to stay home if y have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

South Korea's parliament cancelled sessions Tuesday as it closed for cleaning after confirmation a person with coronavirus h attended a meeting last week.

country's flag carrier Korean Air also reported a cabin crew member h tested positive, without giving details.

And US hinted at scaling back joint military exercises, with Defense Secretary Mark Esper telling reporters in Washington two allies' militaries were "looking at scaling back command post training due to concerns about coronavirus".

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vised travellers to "avoid all nessential travel" to South Korea.

Hong Kong has said it will t allow arrivals from South Korea or than returning residents, while a Mongolian ban on flights to and from South came into force Tuesday.

Two more people h died, KCDC said, taking toll to nine.

South Korea has an vanced medical system, a free press and a strong culture of public accountability, and observers say that its health statistics can be treated with confidence.

Scores of events have been cancelled or postponed, from K-pop concerts to start of K-league football season.

World Team Table Tennis Championship in Busan in March fell victim on Tuesday, with organisers saying new dates in June h been "provisionally reserved".

Korean Basketball League said it would hold matches behind closed doors "until situation improves".

Most of country's infections are linked to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, an entity often accused of being a cult.

A 61-year-old female member developed a fever on February 10, but attended at least four church services in Daegu before being diagsed.

KCDC director Jung Eun-kyeong vised Shincheonji followers to refrain from going outside "as much as possible".

With public criticism growing, Shincheonji's founder Lee Man-hee said group would provide government a list of all its members to have m tested for virus. (AFP) RS RS