This comes after several countries closed their borders with Iran following the announcement that eight people had died from the new infection in the city of Qom.

Two cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in Oman, the country's television said, citing the health ministry.

According to the report, the two Omani women diagnosed with the disease had been to Iran. They are currently in a stable condition, the broadcaster added.

Oman has halted all flights to Iran over the coronavirus outbreak, the TV report also said.

© REUTERS / WANA NEWS AGENCY Iranian women wear protective masks to prevent contracting a coronavirus, as they walk at Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran February 20, 2020.

On Sunday, several countries, including Iraq, Turkey and Pakistan, closed their borders with Iran amid reports that eight people had died from the infection in the city of Qom. The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Iran last Wednesday when two elderly people died from the virus in Qom.

The COVID-19 virus was first detected in China's Wuhan in late December and since then has spread to about 30 other countries. Nearly 2,600 people have died in China alone, while the death toll in other countries has exceeded 20.