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| Sumo wrestlers wear masks as they arrive at the JR Shin-Osaka train station for a tournament in Osaka. AFP |
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| A tourist stands in the Piazza del Duomo in Milan on Feb. 29. AFP |
By Jung Min-ho
Korea has advised its citizens against traveling to Japan and Italy due to coronavirus concerns.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a Level 1 travel advisory for Japan on its four-tier scale on Saturday. The COVID-19 virus has killed 12 people and infected more than 900 (including those from the cruise ship Diamond Princess) in Japan.
"The decision was made after considering the risk of infection in Japan," the ministry said in a statement. "We will keep an eye on the situation developing in Japan and, if necessary, will change the advisory level."
On Friday, the ministry issued a Level 2 travel advisory for three regions in northern Italy ― Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna ― for the same reason. The death toll has hit 34 and nearly 1,700 people infected in the country.
"Korean citizens who stay in northern Italy should be mindful of health and safety; if you are considering visiting the region, we urge you to review the necessity of the trip carefully," the ministry said.
Meanwhile, the ministry confirmed that 80 countries and territories are restricting the entry of travelers coming from Korea, where the virus has killed 22 people and infected more than 4,200.
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