Coronavirus: UAE citizens repatriated from Iran and placed in quarantine

The citizens were flown home safely and are being monitored as a precaution, officials said

UAE citizens flown back home from Iran are being quarantined as a precaution. AP

A number of Emiratis in Iran were flown home amid growing concern over the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The operation involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority and the UAE embassy in Iran, officials said on Monday night.

State news agency Wam said the Emiratis were in quarantine and being checked to limit the spread of the virus.

Authorities did not give details on how many citizens were flown from Iran.

Apart from China, the Covid-19 virus has killed more people in Iran than anywhere else.

Iran's health ministry reported the number of deaths at 66 on Monday, up from 54 on Sunday, while the number of confirmed cases increased by 51 per cent to 1,501.

A UAE-supported operation to deliver emergency health supplies to Tehran was completed on Monday.

The Dh1.1 million shipment of protective gloves, gowns and masks was flown out to Iran by the World Health Organisation from Dubai World Central.