Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in urged residents not to give in to fear as the country prepared to evacuate the first of around 700 citizens from the epicenter of the new coronavirus epidemic in China on Thursday. ROK has reported four cases of the newly identified virus. 

"The weapons that will protect us from the new coronavirus are not fear and aversion but trust and cooperation," Moon said in a speech on Thursday, decrying "fake news" as creating excessive anxiety.

A police cyber safety unit was working with telecoms regulators to block or delete false information that could provoke “social confusion,” Yonhap news agency said.

Protesters used tractors to block access to facilities earmarked as quarantine centers in the cities of Asan and Jincheon, about 80 km (50 miles) south of Seoul, on Wednesday.

The government has proposed to keep the evacuated citizens in isolation at the facilities, usually used as training centers for public servants, for at least two weeks to ensure they do not develop symptoms. 

Moon tried to reassure residents, saying the initial evacuees would only be those with no symptoms, and they will be held in isolation.

"The government will be taking air-tight steps to ensure the residents of areas where the facilities are do not need to be concerned," he said.

The government also said the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) would be closed until the outbreak eased. 

(With input from Reuters)