"Turkish citizens evacuating from Iran, where 15 deaths from coronavirus have so far been confirmed with 95 confirmed cases, tested negative for the disease," the minister said.

The Turkish Airlines plane from Tehran, with 132 passengers as well as 8 crews on board, landed at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport Tuesday.

Iranian citizens are allowed to go home but Turkish citizens are banned to go to Iran.

The virus was first detected in Wuhan city, Central China, in December 2019. It is believed to have originated from wild animals, passing to humans due to the wildlife trade and wet markets. The virus spread to other China provinces in early and mid-January 2020, helped by the Chinese new year migration.

Globally, death toll from the outbreak rose to 2,765 with 81,001 confirmed cases. 30,165 patients were discharged from hospital after being cured.

WHO declared the new coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 31.

ILKHA