Iran on Saturday reported nine new deaths from the novel coronavirus and 205 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall tolls to 43 dead and 593 infected.

A Tehran Municipality worker cleans a bus to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 illness on February 26, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

"The total number of cases is 593 and the overall number of deaths 43 up until midday (0830 GMT) today," health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a televised news conference.

"We have had 205 new cases of COVID-19 within 24 hours", he added, including 22 cases in a new outbreak in the northeastern province of Golestan.