Iran recorded 385 more positive cases of nCoV, bringing the total number of cases nationwide to 978.

"There are 385 new cases in the last 24 hours, the total number of cases is 978, the number of deaths is 54," an increase of 11 cases compared to yesterday, Iranian Ministry of Health spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said today on television. , urging all residents to avoid making unnecessary trips and restricting leaving home.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) announced it had set up support centers across the country to help people cope with the disease.

"We need a national cooperation to deal with this crisis. All people should follow advice from health officials," an IRGC commander said.

Iran is seen as a global threat as a series of nCoV infections in neighboring countries and Canana originated from the Middle East country. Iran recorded the first two cases of nCoV on February 19 in Qom, the seventh largest city and south of the capital Tehran. The number of deaths from nCoV in Iran is the second highest in the world, after China.

Iran on February 26 issued a restraining order for people infected or suspected to be infected with nCoV. Iran also limits access to major Shiite Muslim pilgrimage sites, including the Imam Reza Temple in Mashhad City and the Fatima Masumeh Temple in Qom.

The schools in the affected area were closed for an additional three days, and the universities were closed for another week. The weekly Friday prayers are stopped to avoid crowding in tight spaces.