The head of Iran's counter-coronavirus task force has tested positive for the virus, amid concerns the outbreak may be far wider than officially acknowledged.

Key points: Mr Harirchi promised that authorities would bring the virus under control

Mr Harirchi promised that authorities would bring the virus under control The UAE has banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak for at least a week

The UAE has banned all flights to and from Iran over the outbreak for at least a week Authorities ordered the nationwide cancellation of concerts and soccer matches in Iran

The news of deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi's infection came one day after a Tehran news conference in which he sought to downplay the danger posed by the outbreak, but coughed and was visibly sweating while speaking.

Tehran MP Mahmoud Sadeghi also tested positive for the coronavirus, as the death toll in Iran rose to 16. It is the highest number of deaths outside China, where the virus emerged in December and has since killed more than 2,600 people.

"My corona test is positive … I don't have a lot of hope of continuing life in this world," Mr Sadeghi wrote on Twitter.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour confirmed Mr Harirchi had the virus, while Mr Harirchi posted an online video saying he had quarantined himself at his home.

Mr Harirchi also promised that authorities would bring the virus under control.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday banned all flights to and from Iran, which so far has recorded 95 confirmed infections.

The UAE, home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, remains a key international transit route for Iran's 80 million people.

The flight ban, which will last at least a week, shows the growing concern over the spread of the virus amid worries the outbreak may be larger than authorities have acknowledged.

Iran's Government has rejected claims of a much higher death toll of 50 by an MP from the city of Qom, the epicentre of the virus in the country.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sought to reassure the nation in a speech on Tuesday, calling the new coronavirus an "uninvited and inauspicious passenger".

"We will get through corona," Mr Rouhani said.

"We will get through the virus."

Iranians told to stay home, gatherings cancelled

Pedestrians in downtown Tehran wear masks to help guard against the coronavirus. ( AP: Ebrahim Noroozi )

Authorities ordered the nationwide cancellation of concerts and soccer matches and the closure of schools and universities in many provinces, and urged Iranians to stay home.

Iran has yet to say how many people it has quarantined, but the semi-official Mehr news agency said 320 people had been hospitalised.

Several countries have suspended flights after coronavirus cases in travellers from Iran were confirmed in Canada, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Oman's Khasab port is suspending the import and export of goods to and from Iran from Wednesday, operator Marafi said on Twitter.

Six Arab countries reported their first cases, with those infected all having links to Iran.

Kuwait said on Tuesday the number of infected people there had risen to eight. Bahrain also said it had eight cases.

Reuters/AP