Iran's death toll from coronavirus has jumped by 11 in just a day, bringing the total number of people to have died from the deadly virus to 54.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur made the announcement on state TV today, as he confirmed the number of those infected has now reached 978.

He called on Iranians to avoid any unnecessary trips and stay at home following the huge spike in cases - as the country prepares for the possibility of 'tens of thousands' of people getting tested.

Iran has had the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside of China, despite officials still trying to downplay the reach of the virus as the numbers sharply rise.

Iran's death toll from coronavirus has jumped by 11 in just a day, bringing the total number of people to have died from the deadly virus to 54. Pictured: women wear masks in Tehran

On Saturday, the death toll was 43, with 593 infected. Some neighbouring countries have closed their borders with Iran and several countries have stopped flights.

A handful of countries in the region have reported infections among people who traveled to the Islamic Republic.

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have allocated facilities across the country to help eradicate the new coronavirus, a commander told a televised news conference on Sunday.

Elsewhere, an Iranian MP died of the 'flu' - as the country prepares for the possibility of 'tens of thousands' of people getting tested as the number of confirmed cases spikes.

Some neighbouring countries have closed their borders with Iran and several countries have stopped flights. Pictured: men wear masks in Tehran

He also called on Iranians to avoid any unnecessary trips and stay at home after those contracting the virus saw a huger spike in the space of just 24 hours. Pictured, a woman with a mask walks in Tehran

Iranians wearing face masks ride their motorcycles at a street in Tehran. Donald Trump has banned travel to Iran after America reported its first death

Mohammad Ali Ramazani Dastak, who was elected as the representative for Astana Ashrafieh last week, reportedly suffered from a respiratory and pulmonary disease before his death.

An Iranian vice president who was a spokeswoman for the 1979 hostage-takers during the US embassy crisis has also been infected with the new coronavirus.

Masoumeh Ebtekar, known as Screaming Mary, is regarded as the most powerful woman in Iranian politics and was said to have contracted the infection this week, according to local media.

Mohammad Ali Ramazani Dastak (left), who was elected as the representative for Astana Ashrafieh last week, reportedly suffered from a respiratory and pulmonary disease before his death this morning (right, people in Iran)

Masoumeh Ebtekar, known as Screaming Mary, is regarded as the most powerful woman in Iranian politics and was said to have contracted the infection this week

Members of the medical team spray disinfectant to sanitize indoor place of Imam Reza's holy shrine, following the coronavirus outbreak, in Mashhad, Iran

The list of countries touched by the virus has climbed to nearly 60. Some 87,690 people worldwide have contracted the virus, with deaths topping 2,900.

On Sunday, officials confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the Dominican Republic and three cases in the Czech Republic.

Elsewhere, Lebanon's health ministry said on Sunday three more people had tested positive for coronavirus after arriving from Iran.

The three patients, who had been in isolation at home, were quarantined at a Beirut hospital after showing symptoms, the ministry said in a statement.

Lebanon closed schools this week and halted flights for non-residents from countries with outbreaks, namely China, Iran, Italy and South Korea.

Donald Trump has banned travel to Iran after America reported its first death from the virus.

A rescue personnel checks the body temperature of a man during a drill exercise as a preventive measure for the spread of the of COVID-19 coronavirus in Pakistan

Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in front of a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu, South Korea

The US president added that he was considering additional restrictions, including closing the border with Mexico in response to the outbreak.

Elsewhere, the husband of British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe believes she has contracted coronavirus at the prison where she is being held.

Richard Ratcliffe said his wife has repeatedly asked to be tested for the virus at the Evin prison in Tehran after suffering from a 'strange cold'.

Although there are currently no confirmed cases at the prison, Covid-19 has spread rapidly across Iran.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has called on the Iranian government to 'immediately allow' health professionals into the prison to assess British-Iranian dual nationals.

Medical staff wearing protective suits carry the coffin containing the body of Assunta Pastore, 87, after she passed away in her room at the Garden hotel in Laigueglia, northwest Italy, Liguria

A woman wears a face mask while waiting for a tube train at Bank underground station in London

The rapid spread of the new coronavirus has increased fears of a pandemic, sending global markets into a dive last week and prompting governments to step up control measures.

As of Sunday, there have been over 87,694 cases of the virus globally, the majority in China.

Outside of China, it has spread to 53 countries, with more than 6,500 cases and more than 100 deaths. Globally, the illness has killed nearly 3,000 people.

Mainland China reported the biggest daily rise in coronavirus cases since February 22 on Sunday as more infections emerged among prison inmates in the epicentre of the outbreak, but officials emphasised the overall situation continues to improve.

A total of 2,870 people have died in mainland China and 79,828 have been infected by the virus.

The Beatrix hospital in Gorinchem is temporarily closed to visitors and patients aftera woman infected with the coronavirus was seriously ill at the hospital for a week

Ambulances to transport coronavirus infected patients are parked in Daegu, South Korea

A recovered patient, 98, is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the makeshift hospital for the COVID-19 coronavirus patients, in Wuhan, China

Churches were closed in South Korea on Sunday, with many holding online services instead, as authorities fought to rein in public gatherings. The tally of cases rose by 586 to 3,736 while the death toll rose to 20.

Italy will introduce measures this week worth 3.6 billion euros (£3billion) to help the economy withstand the largest outbreak of coronavirus in Europe, Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said on Sunday.

Italy has registered more than 1,100 cases and at least 29 people have died.

Factory activity in China contracted at the fastest pace ever in February, highlighting the damage from the outbreak on the world's second-largest economy.

Britain announced a jump in cases on Sunday, with 12 new infections taking the total to 35, as health minister Matt Hancock said the government was preparing for the global epidemic to get worse.

Spectators wearing masks watch a runner at the Tokyo Marathon in Tokyo today

Qatar, Ireland, Ecuador and Luxembourg reported their first cases of the virus.

The French government put a temporary ban on public gatherings with more than 5,000 people. France now has 100 confirmed cases. Of those, two have died.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked the public to cooperate in a "tough battle" to contain the outbreak in coming weeks as the country prepares to hold the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer as planned.

The virus has prompted numerous cancellations or postponements of sporting events.