The number of confirmed coronavirus patients in Australia rose to 46 on Wednesday following the diagnoses of several new cases around the country.

The Northern Territory recorded its first case late in the day, a 52-year-old tourist, who was placed in isolation at the Royal Darwin Hospital.

He has had limited contact with the local community and only recently arrived in Darwin via Sydney, NT Health said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Macquarie University confirmed a lecturer had tested positive for COVID-19 following their return from Iran.

They were placed in an isolation ward at Sydney's Westmead Hospital.

The lecturer took "immediate steps to seek medical attention" and has not visited the campus since, the University said in a statement.

"Our staff member has not been present at Macquarie University’s campus since returning from Iran and has had no contact with either staff or students," the statement read.

READ MORE Passengers on flights from Asia to Australia alerted as coronavirus cases jump

The news came hours after a 26-year-old Logan man who recently returned from Iran was confirmed as the 11th person in Queensland to have contracted COVID-19.

The patient, who is in isolation and a stable condition, is Queensland's second confirmed case in two days after a 20-year- old Chinese student was diagnosed on Monday.

The University of Queensland student arrived in Australia on 23 February after spending 14 days in Dubai to bypass Australia's China travel ban.

He remains isolated in a Brisbane hospital while his housemate undergoes testing.

A 63-year-old woman with the virus is also still isolation, in the Gold Coast University Hospital.

The other eight patients have recovered, and have been cleared and discharged from hospital.

AAP

Meanwhile, a 40-year-old woman who recently returned from Iran is the fifth South Australian to have contracted COVID-19, with her baby now undergoing testing.

SA Health says the woman arrived on 1 March via Kuala Lumpur and is asking anyone on the same flight to contact authorities.

She will be treated in an Adelaide hospital as her child awaits test results.

Iranian warnings, Qantas flight cancelled

It comes as Australia's health department indicated it may advise members of the Iranian community to avoid local Iranian New Year's Celebrations.

The possible advice comes as authorities urge anyone who has returned to Australia from Iran since 19 February to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has increased its advisory level to "do not travel to Iran".

Entry to Australia for people who have been in Iran in the past 14 days has been limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their dependents, for an initial 14-day period from 1 March.

READ MORE Iran releases 54,000 prisoners temporarily to limit coronavirus spread

Meanwhile, Qantas cancelled a Wednesday evening flight from Sydney to London, after a passenger who was previously onboard the aircraft was diagnosed with COVID-19.

QF1 was grounded to complete an additional clean.

Passengers have been moved to the next available flight.

The infected passenger arrived in Australia on 28 February QF02, but Qantas was only informed on Wednesday morning.

Additional reporting by Evan Young