Tasnim - Iranian clerics and ordinary people residing in the holy city of Qom have taken part in the parliamentary elections, despite fears of coronavirus epidemic.

The new coronavirus cases in Qom have not dissuaded people from going to the polling stations in the holy city.

However, a new decree issued by Iran�s Election Headquarters has obviated the need for fingerprints on the ballot papers in the ongoing elections as part of preventive measures to avoid coronavirus in the country.

Head of the Iranian Health Ministry�s Public Relations and Information Centre announced on Thursday that the laboratory tests have confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 in Qom and Arak.

With the new infection cases reported on Thursday, the total number of coronavirus cases in Iran rose to five.

The nationwide votes for the parliament and the midterm election of the Assembly of Experts officially began in Iran on Friday morning.