Less than two days after Iran’s deputy health minister and another Member of Parliament both tested positive for the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19), another official has reportedly been confirmed to have the virus.

On Feb. 24, the deputy health minister appeared in a public press conference, denouncing false allegations of the scale of an outbreak in Iran.

This time it is one of Iran’s Vice-Presidents, Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Masoumeh is Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs.

Iran's government appoints optional Vice-Presidents, who are considered cabinet-level officers.

#BREAKING Masoumeh Ebtekar, #Iran's vice-president for women and family affairs, has tested positive for the novel #coronavirus, according to IRNA. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/1VKZFOBljd

— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) February 27, 2020

A state-owned newspaper reported that Masoumeh had contracted the virus. It is unclear where exactly she caught it from.

According to some reports, Masoumeh was seen at a conference with the President and other senior officials a day before she was confirmed to have the virus.

Local media reports Iranian Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar is infected with coronavirus COVID-19.

She attended a cabinet meeting yesterday, seated just a few feet away from President Hassan Rouhani.

Death toll in Iran rises to 26.

*Correction in name https://t.co/W3zlF4crol

— Nailah Huda (@nylahuda) February 27, 2020

معصومه ابتکار، معاون رییس‌جمهوری ایران، که تایید شده به ویروس کرونا مبتلا ست، طبق عکس‌های منتشرشده، دیروز در جلسه هیات دولت شرکت داشته. از جمله حدود سه متر با خود رئیس‌جمهور حسن روحانی فاصله داشته. https://t.co/0Dixl1MFxN pic.twitter.com/cMmd26fslj

— Hadi Nili (@HadiNili) February 27, 2020

Iran currently has the highest death toll outside China, with 26 deaths. Iran has over 200 reported cases so far.

In addition to the Vice-President, the head of Iranian parliament's national security and foreign affairs committee was also reportedly confirmed with the virus.

Image from Twitter