2 Mar 2020

Coronavirus: New Zealanders warned not to travel to Iran

3:03 pm on 2 March 2020

New Zealanders are being officially advised not to travel to Iran, because of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

An Air New Zealand plane at Wellington Airport as fog causes delays and cancellations.

An Air New Zealand plane at Wellington Airport. (file photo) Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen

In updated advice on its Safe Travel website, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also advising any New Zealander there to take the chance to leave while there are still commercial options.

Most airlines have suspended flights.

The ministry was already warning people to avoid the area because of the potential for violent civil unrest.

The ministry also advises New Zealanders not to travel to mainland China because of the virus, and avoid non-essential travel to the South Korean cities of Daegu and Cheongdo.

There is also a warning for people to excercise increased caution if travelling to Italy or Hong Kong because of the virus.

Read more about the Covid-19 coronavirus:

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs