Australia has announced a travel ban on foreigners coming to Australia from Iran, because of the coronavirus outbreak in the Middle Eastern nation.

Key points: Health Minister Greg Hunt says there is likely to be a high number of undetected cases of coronavirus in Iran

Health Minister Greg Hunt says there is likely to be a high number of undetected cases of coronavirus in Iran A woman on the Gold Coast tested positive after recently returning from Iran

A woman on the Gold Coast tested positive after recently returning from Iran New Zealand has also imposed restrictions on people returning after visiting Iran

Foreign nationals coming from Iran will be forced to spend a fortnight in a third country before being allowed into Australia.

Australian citizens and permanent residents will need to isolate themselves for a fortnight after returning from Iran.

Iran has officially recorded 388 cases of coronavirus and 34 deaths — the highest mortality rate for the COVID-19 outbreak outside China.

But the BBC, citing hospital sources, has reported the death toll in Iran could exceed 200.

People wear masks to help guard against the Coronavirus in downtown Tehran. ( AP: Ebrahim Noroozi )

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there is likely a large number of undetected cases in Iran.

"Iran has very specific characteristics unfortunately," Mr Hunt said.

"They have the highest death rate … outside of Hubei [province in China].

"There is likely at this stage a high level of undetected cases, and therefore those cases won't be intercepted or identified on departure from Iran."

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On Friday night Queensland health authorities said a Gold Coast woman who recently returned from Iran had tested positive, bringing the total number of infections in Australia to 23.

The 63-year-old beautician was not showing symptoms when she returned to Australia on Monday but began showing signs of the illness on Thursday.

Authorities are now trying to contact up to 40 people given facial treatments by the woman at a Gold Coast salon.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy downplayed the prospect of travel bans being applied to other countries.

"We have cases spreading in many countries and it's not possible to further isolate Australia," he said.

"We can't be putting on travel bans and quarantine requirements from every country that develops this virus."

On Friday New Zealand imposed restrictions on people returning after visiting Iran after recording its first case after a traveller returning from Iran tested positive.

The World Health Organisation has announced it will dispatch a team to Iran, which is due to arrive on Sunday or Monday.

Earlier this month, the Australian Government banned foreign nationals from entering Australia for a fortnight after leaving mainland China. The restrictions have been extended three times.

On Thursday the Federal Government activated an emergency response plan, while the nation's health ministers gathered to discuss the global outbreak on Friday.

As of Saturday afternoon, more than 79,000 cases had been recorded in China, nearly 3,000 in South Korea, about 1,000 in Japan and almost 900 in Italy.