Seyed Mohammad Mir-Mohammadi, a member of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, died of COVID-19 on Monday, Sputnik reported citing the Tasnim news agency. He was 71.

His death comes as other top Iranian officials have contracted the disease.

Iran reported 523 new cases on Monday, bringing the total number to 1,501, including 66 deaths, according to the country's health ministry.

Iran's deputy health minister Qasem Janbabaei wrote to the dean of the country's medical schools on February 29, asking all public, private and charitable hospitals nationwide to stop accepting non-emergency patients and concentrate on treating new patients with novel coronavirus or face legal penalties. If necessary, the hospital should provide 24-hour services.

Director of Iran's Pasteur institute Alireza Biglari said that more than 22 experimental centers across the country are now equipped with kits that can quickly test patient samples collected by hospitals, a capability that is dozens of times better than before.

In an effort to curb the spread of the epidemic, Iran's major banks will cut working hours and schools, and public places including cinemas and concert halls have been closed.