South Korea's COVID-19 toll is now the second-highest outside of China, apart from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. (File photo: AFP/Jung Yeon-je)

AMMAN: Jordan said on Sunday (Feb 23) it will bar entry to citizens of China, Iran and South Korea and other foreigners travelling from those countries in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The minister of state for media affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of "preemptive measures" following the rise in cases of coronavirus in South Korea, Iran and China.