TEHRAN, Feb. 20 (MNA) – Three patients have tested positive for the coronavirus in Iran, a health ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

"Two people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Qom and one person in Arak, bringing the total of confirmed cases in Iran to five," Qom University of Medical Sciences said in a statement on Thursday.

Two patients were reported dead on Wednesday due to coronavirus infection in the central city of Qom.

The government announced on Thursday the establishment of a ‘Coronavirus Combat and Prevention Headquarters’ to counter the deadly virus.

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