In a statement on Monday، the headquarters urged people to heed the health protocols and refrain from unnecessary travels to the northern province of Iran due to coronavirus outbreak.

In terms of COVID-19 transmission،, 20 cities of the northern province are considered as red zones, and two cities are also considered orange (alarming) zones، it added.

The trend of coronavirus infections has had an upward movement in the province، with cases rising nearly four-fold in a day over the past six weeks، it further said.

The daily death toll from COVID-19 in Iran stood at above 200 as of Sunday، as the total number of cases since the outbreak of the disease in the country surpassed 309،000.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday، Health Ministry Spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari put the death toll from COVID-19 in Iran at 17،190، saying the disease has taken the lives of 208 patients over the previous 24 hours.

She said the total number of people tested positive for COVID-19 in the country has risen to 309،437 following the detection of 2،685 new cases since yesterday.

Of the new cases detected since Saturday، 1،423 patients have been admitted to the hospital، she added.

At least 268،102 patients have recovered from the coronavirus infection so far or have been discharged from hospitals across Iran، the spokeswoman said.

The number of people infected with COVID-19 across the world has surpassed 18.2 million and the death toll has exceeded 693،000.