South Korea's president declared war on the coronavirus, ordering additional hospital beds and more face masks to be made available as the number of cases rose by 974 in the worst epidemic of any nation outside China, Reuters reported.

President Moon Jae-in apologised for shortages of face masks and promised support for virus-hit small businesses in South Korea, which has now reported 5,186 cases of the flu-like disease and 34 deaths.

"The entire country has entered war against the infectious disease as the crisis in Daegu and Gyeongbuk province has reached the highest point," he told a cabinet meeting, referring to the hardest-hit parts of the country.

"I am very sorry to the people that we are not able to supply masks swiftly and sufficiently, and have caused inconvenience."