NSW Health has also urged anyone on the Qatar Airways flight who develops symptoms within 14 days to seek an immediate health assessment. Loading NSW Health also said that two people in close contact with a separate confirmed case of coronavirus could be the first person-to-person transmissions in Australia if their tests show they have contracted the virus. A man in his 40s was diagnosed with COVID-19 following recent travel from Iran on a separate flight, NSW Health advised on Sunday morning. The man isolated himself as soon as he became unwell. He is the fifth confirmed case of coronavirus in NSW, has relatively mild symptoms and is being treated under quarantine at Westmead Hospital.

Six people who were in close contact with the man have also been quarantined. Of those six, two have symptoms of a mild respiratory illness and are being assessed at Westmead Hospital as a precaution while they await test results, the NSW Health Spokesperson said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The man with the confirmed case of COVID-19 became unwell two days after arriving in Australia, and is not considered to have been infectious on his flight. “There is no indication to suggest that anyone on the flight is at risk from this case,” the spokesperson said. Another man in his 50s was under investigation in Sydney for possible COVID-19 but NSW Health said late on Sunday that he is unlikely to have the virus, although further testing was being conducted as a precaution.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said this latest case arrived in Sydney from Iran on February 22, one week before Australia enacted its travel ban for the country. "He did not develop symptoms until 24 February 2020 and was seen at a hospital emergency department and tested on 28 February,” Dr Chant said. “He was advised to be isolated at home while waiting for the test result which was confirmed positive for COVID-19 late on 29 February.” The local public health unit is following up contacts of the confirmed case and is also following up on contacts of the second possible case as a precaution. Australia has so far recorded 27 confirmed cases of coronavirus and its first COVID-19 death on Sunday, the same day the US also reported its first death linked to the virus.

Globally there have been 84,124 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (36,711 have recovered) and 2,867 deaths as infection rates soar in Italy, and Iran announced 205 new infections within 24 hours. NSW Health is urging people who have recently returned from Iran or another high-risk country to ensure they are aware of the symptoms and seek an immediate health assessment if symptoms develop within 14 days of their departure from that country. Australian Iranian Community Organisation president Siamak Ghahreman said he “100 per cent supports” the travel ban, even though it means there are some members of his community who are stuck in Iran during the health crisis. “Of course the travel ban affects many people, but that is actually a good thing to do,” Mr Ghahreman said.

“The individuals cannot put the rest of the community at risk. If this is what needs to be done, it should be enforced ... It benefits everyone. Not just Iranians but everyone in Australia.” The Australian government's Iran travel ban will apply from Sunday and will mean people cannot travel from Iran to Australia for 14 days. Mr Ghahreman said the local Iranian community is no more panicked about the prospect of the virus spreading here than any other group, but they are very worried about the situation in Iran and “angry about the response of the Iranian government”. Iran has “acted too late and too little,” he said. “There’s a lot of secrecy at the moment about this.” Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, runny nose or shortness of breath.

Loading “Anyone with these symptoms should isolate themselves from others and practice simple hygiene by covering their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow and washing their hands thoroughly,” Dr Chant said. “Please call ahead to speak to your GP before visiting, or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222. GPs can arrange testing, if you are very unwell you can also call ahead before attending your local Emergency Department for assessment," she said. Health workers in NSW public hospitals and community-based GPs have been issued advice to help them identify any cases and apply careful infection control measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. The previous four people diagnosed in NSW have all been discharged from hospital.