Pakistan temporarily closed its border with Iran at Taftan on Sunday as the number of casualties from the novel coronavirus in the neighbouring country rose to eight.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove informed that the border was temporarily closed by the authorities in light of reports of coronavirus deaths in Iran. "Yes we have closed the border," Langove confirmed.

The government of Balochistan also declared a medical emergency in districts along the border with neighbouring Iran where eight people have died of the coronavirus.

Five Balochistan districts have borders with Iran which are Gwadar, Washuk, Chaghi, Panjgur and Kech. Of which the busiest border crossing is in Taftan town of Chaghi District.

The provincial health department has asked pilgrims who have travelled to Iran during the last month to undergo medical tests at a nearby hospital if they experience symptoms like fever and coughing.

With the help of the PDMA, the Balochistan government is establishing a 100-bed tent hospital in the border city of Taftan, where two doctors were already working. But now seven more doctors with eight thermal guns have reached Taftan to screen pilgrims and other passengers coming from Iran.

Several teams from Islamabad-based National Institute of Health (NIH) are also reaching Taftan to train the medical staff.

The Balochistan government also banned pilgrims from travelling to Iran for visiting holy Shia sites. The decision was announced in order to check the spread of coronavirus into Pakistan.

Iran has ordered the closure of schools, universities and cultural centres after the coronavirus outbreak that has killed six people in the Islamic republic - the most outside the Far East.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran first surfaced on Wednesday, when authorities said it claimed the lives of two elderly people in Qom, a Shia holy city south of the capital. They were the first confirmed deaths from the virus in the Middle East. Iran reported two more deaths on Friday. The latest cases take to 28 the total number of confirmed infections in Iran.

Based on official figures, nearly 18 percent of those infected with the new coronavirus in Iran have died, compared with little more than three percent in China.

Keeping in view the serious situation, the Balochistan government has barred pilgrims from travelling to Iran.

About 100 pilgrims who were staying at Taftan border town for onward journey to holy sites in Iran have been ordered to return to Quetta.

The authorities have also suspended issuing NOCs to pilgrims for travelling to Iran until further orders. It has been also decided to set up special checkposts for screening pilgrims embarking on the spiritual journey in their individual capacity.

The concerned Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and SP will be responsible if any pilgrim skipped the screening.

Pakistan has a 959-km long border with Iran with a very few crossing points for goods traffic and pilgrims. There was apparently no screening equipment and medical staff at the border crossings.

On Saturday, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal telephoned Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed with him the situation arising out of the coronavirus cases in neighbouring Iran as Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait had also announced steps to check the virus spread.

CM Jam discussed with the PM the steps his government has taken so far for tackling the situation. He told the PM that he himself monitoring the enforcement of the measures.