The Ministry of Public Health on Sunday reported three suspected cases of coronavirus in the western province of Herat.

The three infected persons are Herat residents who recently returned from Qom city in Iran, the Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar told TOLOnews.

Blood samples of the three have been sent to Kabul to be tested, and the results will be available soon, he said.

The National Security Council in a statement said that all travels to and from Iran have been temporarily banned to prevent the coronavirus outbreak.

Based on this decision, trade relations between the two neighboring countries will also be stopped for an unknown time.

In Iran, the virus has killed eight people, according to state media reports.

Addressing an event in Kabul, the Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz said the required preparations have been made all over the country to prevent an outbreak of the virus.

He called on the public to wash their hands with detergent on a daily basis and avoid nonessential gatherings.

The meeting at the National Security Council also decided to begin a public awareness campaign on coronavirus across the country, the statement read.\

According to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to limit its consulate services in Iran and it should ask Iran to stop expelling Afghan refugees.