World’s oldest coronavirus survivor named as Dutch WW2 survivor, 107, who beat the odds to fight off bug
A 107-year-old woman is believed to be the oldest person in the world to survive the coronavirus. Dutch pensioner Cornelia Ras fell ill the day after her birthday after attending a church service with other residents of her nursing home. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates She and 40 […]
A 107-year-old woman is believed to be the oldest person in the world to survive the coronavirus.
Dutch pensioner Cornelia Ras fell ill the day after her birthday after attending a church service with other residents of her nursing home.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
She and 40 others at the service were diagnosed as carrying the virus after the trip on Goeree-Overflakkee, an island in the southwest of the Netherlands.
At least 12 of the group have since been killed by Covid-19.
But astonishingly Ms Ras – born in 1912 – has now been told by her doctors that she has successfully overcome the virus, reports Dutch newspaper AD.
The Netherlands – like many other nations in Europe – has been hit hard by the coronavirus.
More than 2,300 people have been killed by the bug, while almost 22,000 people have been infected.
The numbers are also still continuing to climb, with April 7 being the nation’s deadliest day with 234 deaths.
Ms Ras’s incredible story however gives hope as the world continues to try and overcome the virus – with more than 1.5million people infected and almost 89,000 dead.
She takes over the title as the oldest coronavirus survivor from a 104-year-old American man who previously survived the Spanish Flu pandemic back in 1918.
Her niece Maaike De Groot said: “We did not expect her to survive this.
“She takes no medicines, still walks well and gets down on her knees every night to thank the Lord.
“From the looks of it, she will be able to continue to do so.”
Ms Ras had to celebrate her 107th birthday on her own due to social distancing measures before being taken ill, reports Dutch newspaper De Gelderlander.
She complained of a fever and a cough, but amazingly did not develop any further symptoms.
Ms De Groot, 68, said they actually doubted whether she had coronavirus until they saw the test results.
She added: “She remained very calm, she surrendered. If she went, it would be fine.”
Ms Ras is reportedly is now enjoying herself after her recovering by sitting in the sun on her balcony at the home.
Her niece explained: “She loves being outdoors.”
Until she was 100, the centenarian is said to lived independently on a farm in the village of Den Bommel in The Netherlands.
Ms De Groot said that her aunt is “100%” mentally – and still “knows all their names”.
The family still cannot visit Ms Ras to celebrate due to ongoing coronavirus lockdown measures.
Her niece used to visit weekly to go and wind the clock in her room for her – and said she wishes she could give her a hug.
She added: “I will do it again, this is temporary.”
Prior to Ms Ras, the oldest coronavirus survivor was believed to be Bill Lapschies, a 104-year-old American.
He survived World War 2 and the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 that killed up to 50million people.
Mr Lapschies – who was born in 1916 – first displayed symptoms on the virus in March.
He was placed in isolation at the Edward C Allworth Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, Oregon, and pulled through the infection.
And the veteran celebrated his 104th birthday last week.
When asked how he felt, Mr Lapschies said: “Pretty good. I made it. Good for a few more.”
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Other centenarians reported to have survived the coronavirus include 103-year-old Zhang Guangfen, a grandma from Wuhan in China.
She underwent six-days hospital treatment in the epicentre of the virus, but still managed to pull through.
And another 103-year-old, from Iran, is also reported to have recovered after a week’s worth of treatment in Semnan.
Italica Grondona, a 102-year-old woman, recovered in the San Martino hospital in Genoa, Italy.
She was nicknamed “Highlander”, after spending more than 20 days in hospital.
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Around half the world remains on lockdown amid the global pandemic which first emerged in China last December.
The United States currently has the highest number of cases in the world with more than 435,000, with Europe also badly impacted in nations like Italy, Spain, France and Britain.
It is expected the peak is nearing for many countries – with the UK’s predicted to be sometime next week.
Meanwhile there was a glimmer of hope as New Zealand appears to have weathered the worst of the virus storm and recorded just one death.