Amman/Tehran (dpa) - Gulf countries have introduced precautionary measures and postponed several events to stop the spread of the new coronavirus as the number of virus fatalities in Iran reached 77 on Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of people around the world have contracted the new strain of coronavirus, which began spreading in the industrial hub of Wuhan, China, in December.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior said that additional precautionary measures have been taken at border crossings, including a ban on citizens and residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from entering the kingdom for 14 days after returning from places where coronavirus is spread.

The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

GCC citizens and residents usually enjoy freedom of movement within bloc, but all six member states have confirmed cases of coronavirus within their borders, mostly in people who have returned from Iran.

Saudi Arabia also advised citizens and residents against travelling to Germany and France, where there has been a rising number of infections. Similar advice was issued against travel to Japan and Italy last week.

Riyadh registered its first infection on Monday and said that the patient is a Saudi national who arrived from Iran via Bahrain.

Health Ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdel-Aali told a press conference on Tuesday that some 70 people the man interacted with since arriving in the kingdom have been isolated and that their test results are expected within hours.

Kuwait decided to postponed next month's GCC Games, which will now be held in December, the official KUNA news agency reported.

In the UAE, the Art Dubai exhibition said this year's event - scheduled to be held this month - will be postponed over concerns of "the on-going global health implications of the Coronavirus."

Outside China, Iran has seen the highest number of fatalities, and the outbreak has led to a cluster of other cases in Gulf countries.

Qatar announced one new case on Tuesday, bringing the total to eight, while Oman registered six new cases, bringing its national tally to 12.

All of Iran's public institutions - including the armed forces - need to do their best to support the Health Ministry in the battle against the new coronavirus, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday.

Some 300,000 Health Ministry staffers are working to stem the spread of the virus.

According to the ministry, the number of people who have died of Covid-19 in Iran has risen from 66 to 77 in the past 24 hours.

It said a total of 2,336 people were now infected - a jump of 835 compared to Monday.

Meanwhile, the ministry noted that 435 people had successfully been treated for the disease and had left hospital.

Six World Health Organization employees arrived in Tehran on a plane carrying 7.5 tons of medical gear, including protective gloves, face masks and respirators.

Germany, France and Britain have promised to also fly urgent medical supplies to Iran to help the country combat the Covid-19 outbreak.

Some of those infected by the new coronavirus develop the pneumonia-like disease Covid-19, which seems to be more dangerous for those with pre-existing lung problems.