114-year-old Ethiopian recovers from COVID-19

Although all age groups are at risk of contracting COVID-19, those who face significant risk of developing severe illness are older people. Majority who fall under this at-risk group have given up the ghost. This is as a result of ageing and underlying health conditions.

However, a Centenarian has recovered from the deadly coronavirus in Ethiopia, health officials announced on Thursday.

The 114-year-old Ethiopian man is said to be in good shape after spending sometime at an Addis Ababa-based hospital. In a Facebook post, the doctor in charge of the hospital, Dr Yared Agidew, said the patient has fully recovered.

He “is fully recovered,” Dr Yared said in his post in Amharic as reported by the BBC. “He is now in good health.”

“Long life and health for our health workers!”

Ethiopia has recorded close to 5,000 coronavirus cases out of which 1,412 have recovered with 75 deaths.

Meanwhile, in South Africa the death is reported of a two-day-old baby after being born prematurely to a coronavirus positive mother. The case becomes the country’s first neonatal coronavirus death since the pandemic hit the Rainbow Nation.

Explaining the circumstances leading to the baby’s death, health minister Zweli Mkhize said the premature baby’s condition was critical including lung problems and required ventilation immediately after birth.

“Sadly we have recorded the first neonatal mortality related to COVID-19. This was a two-day-old baby that was born prematurely and therefore had lung difficulties, which required ventilation support immediately after birth,” the BBC quoted Mkhize at a press briefing.

“The mother had tested positive for Covid-19 and the child subsequently tested positive for Covid-19 as well. It is important to appreciate the complexities of the underlying condition of prematurity,” Mkhize said.

He added: “We extend a special word of comfort to the mother of this child and salute the neonatologists, nurses and all allied and technical personnel who had the difficult task of caring for the neonate to the end.”