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TEHRAN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday issued an order to form a national headquarters to cope with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country, state TV reported.

The Health Ministry was ordered to form a national headquarters to organize sessions and employ the potentials of the ministry to help contain the disease.

Since Iran announced the first cases of the coronavirus in the country on Wednesday, 43 Iranians have been confirmed infected by the virus, eight of whom have died.