Coronavirus in India: TikTok star mocks wearing a mask, becomes first person in district to test positive

A TikTok star from Madhya Pradesh, India, who made fun of using face masks for protection against COVID-19 in one of his videos, soon tested positive and reportedly became the first case in his district.

The 25-year-old, a resident of Sagar district, was kept in isolation at the Bundelkhand Medical College and his test results were revealed on Friday.

In one of the clips he had posted online earlier, he reportedly dismissed the concept of wearing a mask. His username on TikTok is ‘Sameer King’ reportedly.

According to a report by CNN-News18, an Indian English language news television channel, the youngster later visited to his sister’s house in Jabalpur and developed symptoms, after which his test was conducted and he was moved to the hospital’s isolation ward. However, even after being hospitalised and being told that he could be a potential carrier, he took things lightly and uploaded videos from inside the ward.

CNN-News18 reported that after testing positive, he uploaded two more videos, asking his followers to pray for his quick recovery.

“I will not be able to upload videos for a little while as I have been told I have coronavirus. Please keep supporting me… keep me in your prayers,” he reportedly said in the clip.

News magazine India Today reported that his phone was taken away by the police after that.

"Following complaint that the coronavirus patient shot the video from the quarantine centre and uploaded it through internet, we took his mobile phone in our custody," a police official was quoted as saying.

This is apparently the first case of the deadly virus in the Sagar district.

Authorities have now quarantined over 50 people, including the medical staff, family and neighbours of the patient.

Over 250 people from the district are already under home quarantine after returning from other cities.