Coronavirus: Dutch woman aged 107 becomes 'world's oldest person to survive COVID-19'

A Dutch woman aged 107 is believed to be the world’s oldest survivor of coronavirus.

Centenarian Cornelia Ras fell ill on 17 March, a day after her 107th birthday, after attending a church service with fellow residents of her nursing home on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee, south-west of Rotterdam.

Ras and 40 others at the service subsequently tested positive for the virus.

On Monday, the pensioner was told that she had beaten the virus.

Twelve of her fellow residents died from COVID-19.

Her niece, Maaike de Groot, told Goeree Overflakkee News: “When I heard it, I honestly didn't think she would survive. All the stories you heard about people on the IC who were in such bad shape. And then her age.

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"It was such a huge relief when the doctor called. Of course I did speak to my aunt in between and she has not been scared for a moment.

“She is really incredibly strong. We are all very relieved that it is over."

According to Reuters, de Groot told Dutch newspaper AD in a separate interview: “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.”

Previously, Bill Lapschies, a 104-year-old American, was the oldest known survivor of COVID-19.

Asked how he recovered, the war veteran, from Oregon, said replied: “I don’t know. It just went away. Sit out here and you can get rid of anything.”

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