90yo Couple Praise Medics After Surviving COVID-19

Story By: Ernest Bio BogoreSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

An elderly couple in their 90s have paid tribute to hospital staff in France after “almost dying” before managing to survive COVID-19.

Henri Marchais was admitted to the Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital in the French capital Paris on 8th March after showing symptoms of the virus.

Henri told local media that he first experienced a fever, but as he rarely falls ill he took it lightly.

However, the OAP’s symptoms worsened and the emergency services were notified.

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Henri said: “I don’t remember anything about the night I almost died.”

According to reports, when Henri was finally taken into the hospital’s infectious disease department, his condition became critical.

Henri was reportedly placed on a respiratory aid for several days, but not go into intensive care.

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Henri’s paediatrician daughter Dr Veronique Gagey said: “He fought alone with his own oxygen.”

In the same period, Henri’s wife Monique Marchais also tested positive for the virus.

She said: “When I knew the result was positive, I really didn’t care too much because I was told ‘you are going in the same room as your husband’ and we ended up together.”

On 28th March, three days after his wife, Henri was released from hospital.

The couple paid tribute to hospital staff, saying: “We were treated in an exceptional way.”

As of 30th March, France has reported 40,723 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,606 related deaths, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, 7,226 people have made full recoveries.

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