Kabul, May 4 (IANS) Afghanistans Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) warned that gatherings around bakeries for government-funded bread distribution could increase the spread of the novel coronavirus among the public.

According to the Ministry, the coronavirus has spread rapidly in the past five days and cases were increasing day by day, TOLO News reported.

The Afghan government pledged to distribute bread to poor people via Kabul bakeries and it has started the process.

"Some bread is being distributed in the bakeries, but more people gathering. It has more disadvantages than advantages because the virus is spreading rapidly," TOLO News quoted Wahidullah Mayar, a spokesman for the MoPH, as saying on Sunday.

However, the Kabul municipality urged residents to follow the recommended health measures.

The Kabul municipality distributed bread to 250,000 families across Kabul city via 2,500 bakeries.

Meanwhile, Mayar said that in the past 24 hours, 235 positive cases were recorded across the country, taking the total to 2,704.

The number of reported recoveries in the country is 345, while 85 have died.

--IANS ksk/