More confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported Monday in Asia-Pacific countries, with the Philippines declaring a state public health emergency.

The Philippines reported Monday 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 20.

Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said all test results from the new cases were released around noontime on Monday, after samples were collected on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

She said the Epidemiology Bureau of Department of Health is currently conducting comprehensive contact tracing activities for the additional cases.

"DOH is also currently in coordination with concerned local government units and Centers for Health Development for localized response and implementation of infection prevention and control measures," Vergeire said at a news conference.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared earlier on Monday a state public health emergency after the Department of Health confirmed the local COVID-19 transmission in the country.

South Korea confirmed 96 more cases of the COVID-19 on Monday, raising the total number of infections to 7,478.

As of 4:00 p.m. local time, the number of infected patients totaled 7,478, up 96 from the previous announcement as of midnight. Two more deaths were reported, lifting the death toll to 53.

Among the patients, 42 were in critical conditions, raising a possibility for the fatality increase.

Thirty-six more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, raising the combined number to 166.

The virus infections soared for the past 19 days in the country, with 7,351 new cases reported from Feb. 19 to March 8. The country has raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level.

The total number of infections in Daegu, about 300 km southeast of Seoul, and its surrounding North Gyeongsang province increased to 5,571 and 1,107 respectively as of midnight. It accounted for about 90 percent of the total.

The numbers in Seoul and its adjacent Gyeonggi province stood at 130 and 152 each.

The number of COVID-19 infections in Japan increased by 10 to reach 505 as of 8:30 p.m. local time on Monday, according to data from Japan's health ministry and local governments.

The 696 cases on the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship previously quarantined in Yokohama Port were calculated separately.

The majority of confirmed cases stemmed from Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido which has reported 108 cases and declared a state of emergency over the situation.

According to the latest statistics, Aichi Prefecture has 85 confirmed cases, Tokyo 64, Osaka 55, Kanagawa 41 and Chiba Prefecture has confirmed 22 COVID-19 infections.

The health ministry said 33 patients considered severely ill are on ventilators to receive respiratory assistance or have been admitted to intensive care units for medical treatment.

The death toll in Japan from the virus currently stands at 16, including seven from the Diamond Princess, according to the health ministry.

The ministry also said that 346 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovery.

Malaysia on Monday announced 18 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 117 in the country.

One patient of the newly identified had travelled to Iran between Feb. 20-27. He was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on March 8, the health ministry said in a statement.

Among Malaysia's second wave of cases beginning late February, only six cases had travel history, while the vast majority were infected locally with close contacts, the ministry said.

Two patients remained in intensive care, the ministry added.

The ministry also announced a collaboration with the country's private medical sector to provide home testing for COVID-19, without having to visit a healthcare facility. It also repeated its advice that Malaysians avoid travelling to territories or cities affected.

India's federal health ministry on Monday said the total number of novel coronavirus cases in the country has risen to 43.

According to the ministry officials, the increase in cases was recorded after the detection of new positive cases.

"As of today, there are 43 total cases, out of which 40 are active cases of COVID-19 in the country," said a statement issued by the health ministry.

"Four new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since yesterday's update - one from Ernakulum, Kerala, one from Delhi, one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Jammu (Indian-controlled Kashmir)."

According to the ministry officials, the latest cases include a woman in Indian-controlled Kashmir with a recent travel history to Iran and a three-year-old child in Kerala with travel history to Italy.

Officials said three positive cases from Kerala detected initially have been discharged from hospital after they showed signs of improvement.

Of the 43 cases in India, 16 are foreign nationals.

The local governments in various states have ordered the closure of primary schools until March 31 as a precautionary measure in wake of the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Indonesia on Monday recorded 13 new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total number of the cases to 19, a health ministry official said in a press conference at the State Palace here.

"The total number of confirmed positive cases (of COVID-19) is 19," spokesperson for all coronavirus-related matters Achmad Yurianto said on Monday afternoon.

He said that of the total number, two are foreigners.

All the patients are now isolated separately at hospitals in Jakarta and other cities.

The Australian government has confirmed a coronavirus stimulus package to support businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Monday confirmed.

According to the Australian Department of Health, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 had grown to 80 as of 11 a.m. (local time) Monday.

Half of the cases are in New South Wales (NSW) where two of the three deaths in Australia have occurred.