Panicked residents call police on Chinese man strolling without mask in Turkey

Panicked residents in Turkey’s eastern Kars province on Tuesday called the police upon spotting a Chinese man taking a stroll in the city’s most bustling area without wearing a face mask.

The man, who had arrived in Kars from Erzurum, was convinced by medical teams to wear a mask and a pair of gloves.

The man was later persuaded to hand over his bag to the police after security members pleaded with him for some time.

He was later taken to a hospital where he was tested for coronavirus and then transferred to the migration department.

It is not yet clear whether the man tested positive for coronavirus.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China in December, the virus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to at least 177 countries and regions, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

More than 607,900 cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll exceeding 28,100 and more than 131,800 recoveries.