TEHRAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease in Iran has affected 64 people, and 12 of them have died, Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of Ministry of Health and Medical Education, announced on Monday.

The infected people are from the Iranian central cities of Qom and Arak, northern cities of Rasht and Tonekabon and capital Tehran.

On Monday, Press TV reported that Iranian factories producing face masks have swung into full gear amid the surge in coronavirus cases in the country.

Other government departments have also joined the campaign to confront the spread of infection in Iran.

The Ministry of Defense, which runs major industrial units across the country, also placed orders on Monday for mass production of disinfectants, according to Press TV.