Pedestrians wear face masks amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, in Tokyo on Tuesday. In Japan, the confirmed number has topped 861, including passengers previously quarantined at the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Photo: AFP

Japan is planning to ban entry by foreign nationals who have visited certain regions in South Korea due to outbreaks of COVID-19 there, government sources said Wednesday.

Specifically, the regions that foreign nationals have visited in South Korea that will be subject to the entry ban are the South Korean city of Daegu and neighboring county of Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang Province, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the sources said.

The entry ban comes on the heels of the foreign ministry here a day earlier raising its alert level for both the city and country in southeastern Korea.

The ministry in raising its alert level, advised Japanese people to avoid making trips to the region that were not essential.