Tehran, Feb 25 (IANS): The number of coronavirus cases in Iran has increased to 64, with 12 fatalities, a health official announced here, leading to a number of countries to close their borders with the Islamic Republic.

On Monday, Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said the infected people were from the cities of Qom, Arak, Rasht, Tonekabon and capital Tehran, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier in the day, Press TV had reported that Iranian factories producing face masks have swung into full gear amid the sudden surge in cases.

Other government departments have also joined the campaign to confront the spread of infection in Iran.

The Ministry of Defense, which runs major industrial units across the country, also placed orders on Monday for mass production of disinfectants, according to Press TV.

Due to the outbreak, Pakistan, Turkey and Armenia have temporarily closed their borders with Iran.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Kuwait has reported three cases, Oman two and Bahrain and Iraq each confirmed one.