UPDATE - Turkey repatriates coronavirus patient from Sweden

UPDATE WITH ERDOGAN'S REMARKS

By Duygu Yener

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Sunday brought home one of its citizens from Sweden who contracted coronavirus but was not given treatment.

A Turkish air ambulance left Malmo Airport at 9 a.m. local time (0700GMT) and arrived at the Ankara Esenboga Airport at 1:30 p.m. local time (1030GMT).

After routine health checks, the patient Emrullah Gulusken and his three children were taken to Ankara Sehir Hospital.

In Malmo, Sweden, Gulusken tested positive for COVID-19 but was denied treatment by authorities. His daughters Leyla and Samira shared posts on social media, asking for help.

Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca took swift action, and brought the family back.

"A daughter did something that would be an example to all. Our country took very swift action. Our ambulance aircraft brought the patient from Sweden this morning," Koca wrote on Twitter.

"Dear Leyla [daughter of Gulusken], we have cured over 25,000 patients, Emrullah Gulusken will recover as well," he said.

President Erdogan also spoke to Leyla over phone, saying Turkey will do everything possible for her father's health and well-being.

Earlier, daughters of the Turkish expat thanked Erdogan and the health minister for their initiative.

After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 185 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.

While billions of people are under containment to slow the spread of the virus, few countries including Spain and Austria have started easing the restrictions.