Asia opens lower amid coronavirus global concerns

Asian stock indices opened the first session of the week lower as the death toll for the coronavirus continues to rise with South Korea announcing the highest lever of disease alert, while Italy's cases surged to 140. 

Earlier New Zealand data showed retail sales up 0.7%, slowing down from 1.7% in the third quarter. 

China announced that 77,000 have now been infected with the coronavirus, with the death toll climbing to 2,500. 

In South Korea, 7 people died from the virus with the cases surging to 763, while Samsung announced a case of the virus in one of its factories in South Korea, forcing it to close it down. 

In Italy, severe measures were taken after 140 people were infected with the virus, with Turkey is expected to close borders with Iran, the place with the most cases of the virus in the Middle East, 43 cases and 8 deaths.  

China's CSI tumbled 1.10% to 4,103, while Shanghai shed 0.93% to 3,011. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng swooned 1.57%, while South Korea's KOSPI slumped 3.22% to 2,093. 

New Zealand's stock gave up 1.33%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 2.34% to 6,971.