Coronavirus pandemic

She's Singapore's oldest Covid-19 survivor at 102

Madam Yap Lay Hong, 102, is among 16 residents and staff at the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home (far left) who caught the virus. Madam Yap, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, is fiercely independent even at her age, said Mr Then Kim Yuan,
Madam Yap Lay Hong, 102 (above), is among 16 residents and staff at the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home who caught the virus. Madam Yap, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, is fiercely independent even at her age, said Mr Then Kim Yuan, the administrator of Lee Ah Mooi home. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALAN HO
Madam Yap Lay Hong, 102, is among 16 residents and staff at the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home (far left) who caught the virus. Madam Yap, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, is fiercely independent even at her age, said Mr Then Kim Yuan,
Madam Yap Lay Hong, 102, is among 16 residents and staff at the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home (above) who caught the virus. Madam Yap, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, is fiercely independent even at her age, said Mr Then Kim Yuan, the administrator of Lee Ah Mooi home. PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO, COURTESY OF ALAN HO

Madam Yap Lay Hong, 102, is Singapore's oldest coronavirus survivor.

She was discharged from Tan Tock Seng Hospital yesterday.

Madam Yap is among 16 residents and staff at the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home who caught the virus - a cluster that led to a ban on visitors to all nursing and old folks' homes last month.

Lee Ah Mooi stated on Facebook yesterday afternoon: "Today is a day of happiness as we welcome home our residents who fought hard to recover and overcome the Covid-19 virus.

"They were discharged from the hospitals and are now resting well at the home. We thank the heroic and selfless efforts of our front-line healthcare colleagues who nursed them back to health."

One 96-year-old resident remains in hospital, but her condition has been stable, said Mr Then Kim Yuan, the administrator of Lee Ah Mooi.

Madam Yap, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, is among the rare centenarians worldwide battling Covid-19.

The oldest to survive the virus is a Dutch woman in the Netherlands, 107-year-old Cornelia Ras, who recovered in about 20 days.

The virus has proven fatal for 16 in Singapore, of whom two, both aged 86, were residents of Lee Ah Mooi.

Madam Yap, who has five children, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, was found to be infected with the virus on April 1.

Madam Yap's second son Alan Ho told The Straits Times last week that his mother has always been in good health and he was "confident she can pull through".

Mr Ho, 72, a retired office manager said: "When the coronavirus broke out in Wuhan, I already told my mother about it and how it had infected tens of thousands of people and many had died. I told her she must be careful. She kept saying the situation is so serious."

Mr Then described Madam Yap as "fiercely independent and mobile even at the age of 102, where she takes daily walks and bathes herself under supervision".

He said: "Her daily lifestyle and even overcoming Covid-19 are true testaments to her resilience and tenacity. Her story shines a light of hope in all of us for overcoming this battle as a nation and community."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 02, 2020, with the headline She's Singapore's oldest Covid-19 survivor at 102. Subscribe