A surge in the number of the new coronavirus cases in South Korea has led 15 countries across the world to place stricter entry restriction on Koreans, with Israel taking the toughest action by abruptly banning entry of Koreans and all foreign nationals coming from Korea amid virus scare.

On Saturday evening, a Korean airliner with 130 Korean passengers was sent back to Korea from Israel just two hours after the plane landed in Israel. Only 12 Israelis were allowed to get off the plane upon the flight’s arrival in Tel Aviv.

The banning comes after a group of Koreans who last week visited Israel on a pilgrimage have been tested positive for novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, after they returned to Korea. Israel already has been denying entry to visitors from China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Japan.

Channel 12, a local Israeli news, on Sunday (local time) reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed all South Koreans in Israel be immediately expelled from the country, without providing sources or details.

Following the incidents, the Korean government filed a formal complaint to Israel, demanding such an incident not to occur again.

The United States and Taiwan also have raised their travel advisory for Korea, urging travelers to the country to exercise “increased caution.” Vietnam and other South Asian countries have strengthened inspection on visitors from Korea and cut flights between the two countries.

As of Monday morning, Korea has 763 confirmed coronavirus cases, which is the second largest after China, excluding the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. The national toll jumped more than tenfold in less than a week after a cluster of virus cases emerged from a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu. The country’s death toll due to the virus has hit seven and over 6,000 are undergoing quarantine and medical checks to date.

The Korean government raised the virus alert level to the highest on Sunday, which empowers the government to take administrative measures to stop the spread of the virus including ordering temporary closure of schools and restricting public transport operation.

By Park Man-won, Lee Jae-cheol, and Cho Jeehyun

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]