The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised its travel advisory for South Korea to the highest level, urging Americans to avoid all nonessential travel to the country as cases of the novel coronavirus surge around the globe.

CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to South Korea, the agency said in its warning on Monday. If you spent time in South Korea during the past 14 days and feel sick with fever or cough, or have difficulty breathing seek medical advice.

South Korean health officials have identified 893 cases of the virus in the country, the highest of any region outside China, where the virus was first seen. Many of those cases are in the city of Daegu and have been linked to a branch of a secretive religious group called the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

The countrys president, Moon Jae-in, raised South Koreas alert to the highest level last weekend as cases spread, allowing the government to lock down cities or restrict the movement of residents.

We are faced with a watershed moment in the case of the coronavirus, Moon said , according to The New York Times. The coming few days will be a critical time for us. This will be a momentous time when the central government, local governments and the whole people must wage an all-out, concerted response to the problem.