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Dimapur, Aug. 8 (EMN): Amid Covid-19 fear and gloom, an elderly couple from Lasumi village in Phek district recovered from the disease, giving hope to patients and public alike in this fight against the virus.
The couple, a nonagenarian and a septuagenarian who were detected with the Covid-19 last month, were tested negative for the virus on August 7 evening.
Two of their sons, one of them a healthcare worker, were also tested positive for the virus, it was informed.
The medical superintendent of Covid Hospital Phek, Dr. Tiala Longkumer, informed Eastern Mirror that the husband, who is 93 years old, and the wife, 79, will be discharged today, August 8 from the hospital.
The couple were tested on July 24 and the result from the BSL-3 laboratory in Kohima came positive on July 28, after which they were brought from Lasumi village and admitted to Covid Hospital Phek the following day.
Both of them are co-morbidity patients -- the 93-year-old is a patient of hypertension with some heart problem, gouty arthritis and kidney problem, while his 79-year-old wife had hypertension and diabetes.
"We were very apprehensive because of their age and health conditions but they have won against the virus, proving that we need not fear the virus and it can be treated. It was a happy moment for the Phek Covid Hospital team last evening as their recovery has given us hope amid the gloom," the MS said.
The Phek Covid Hospital Nodal Officer, Dr. K Kuotsu, also told this newspaper that initially, when their positive report came, the team were worried because of their age and health issues and the distance between Lasumi village and Phek town, which is more than three hours journey. He said that the elderly woman had never travelled to Phek town which was another concern for the team.
"Taking into consideration their health and their age, we decided to take care of them from their home as taking them to Phek in this condition and moving them to a new environment may be another concern. Moreover, they live in a secluded area with no closeby neighbours, so we thought since they do not pose any risk, we will take care of them from their home. However, the villagers were reluctant and insisted on taking them to Phek. So, we shifted them to Phek Covid Hospital although the wife had motion sickness all the way. However, by God's grace they have recovered," Dr. Kuotsu said.
Their recovery should release the panic and stigmatisation that people have towards Covid-19 patients and people should have a sense of humanity towards the patients, he added.