Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew on Monday after sharp rises in new cases reported in Iran, Italy and South Korea but China relaxed restrictions on movements in several places including Beijing as its rates of new infections eased.

Fears of a global pandemic continue to grow as coronavirus cases spike in several countries, including Italy, South Korea, and Iran.

Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew on Monday after sharp rises in new cases reported in Iran, Italy and South Korea but China relaxed restrictions on movements in several places including Beijing as its rates of new infections eased.

North Korea has quarantined hundreds of foreigners in a bid to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus.

French junior transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said on Monday that he saw no need to close down transport borders between France and Italy, despite the spread of coronavirus.

Italy's biggest bank UniCredit said on Monday Chief Executive Jean Pierre Mustier had confirmed he would remain in his role, following media reports that he was being considered for the top job at rival HSBC .

Fears of a coronavirus pandemic grew on Monday after sharp rises in new cases reported in Iran, Italy and South Korea but China relaxed restrictions on movements in several places including Beijing as its rates of new infections dropped.

"We share concern for possible contagion [but] there is no need to panic," Italian EU financial affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said at a G20 meeting in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, referring to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy. "The EU has full confidence in the Italian authorities and the decisions they are taking," he added, after Italy quarantined towns and halted high-level public events in the wake of three deaths.