Ferozuddin Feroz, minister of public health, on Monday during a press conference in Kabul confirmed the first coronavirus case in western Herat province, which borders Iran.

This is the first reported case in Afghanistan.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Public Health had reported three suspected cases of coronavirus in Herat.

Two of the cases were negative but one was positive, said Feroz, adding that preparations already took place to respond to the coronavirus.

The three infected persons are Herat residents who recently returned from Qom city in Iran, the Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar told.

Blood samples of the three were sent to Kabul for testing and the results were shared on Monday.

The National Security Council in a statement said that all travel to and from Iran has been temporarily banned to prevent the coronavirus outbreak.

Based on this decision, trade relations between the two neighboring countries will also be stopped for an unknown time.

In Iran, the virus has killed eight people, according to state media reports.

But other reports say that the number has been raised to 12 deaths and 48 cases of infection in Iran.

SOURCE: Tolonews