Seniors beat COVID-19 together

A couple in their 80s, with diabetes and other serious health issues, are counting their blessings, having contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19) and survived. The Manchester couple tested positive for the virus after returning to the island from the United States in March.

"I am feeling so blessed that God has spared our lives that we can tell our story," said 80-year-old Winnifred Bromfield, who shared her story during a recent virtual COVID Conversations, hosted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Bromfield said she had travelled overseas for a medical appointment, but because of the virus, she and her husband returned quicker than normal.

"When I was on the plane, I did everything that was possible because COVID-19 was just picking up speed and I really wanted to get ahead before I got trapped in America," she said.

The senior citizen recalled that after returning to the island, she and her husband were contacted by a health official from St Elizabeth, who informed them of the policy regarding checking and recording their temperatures and presented them with a kit.

"I think it was on the third day she (health ministry personnel) found that our temperature was rising, but she told us she was not anxious to take us to any facility because of our age, but nevertheless they had to come and get us," Bromfield said.

She said that they were taken to the Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth where a COVID-19 test was done and it came back positive.

"I was really concerned because we are diabetic, we have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and for me, there was another one against me as I have a history of congestive heart failure. Also, I was anaemic and I was concerned about what would happen to me," she said.

"We spent six weeks in the hospital. We left the hospital on March 10 and we are home recuperating now," she said.

Clinicians have pointed to increasing evidence that people with existing chronic conditions or compromised immune systems are at higher risk of death due to COVID-19. In Jamaica, health officials said that the vast majority of persons who die from the disease are above 60 years old, and have comorbidities. In addition to age, doctors have listed cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, obesity and diabetes as major risk factors for persons with COVID-19.

Some 948 persons over the age of 60 have tested positive for COVID-19 in Jamaica, 84 of whom have died and 241 have recovered, including six of whom are age 90 and above. As of Monday, Jamaica had recorded 7,109 cases of COVID-19, including 123 deaths and 2,674 recoveries. Some 140 people are in hospital, 12 of whom are listed as critical.