Sepoy Ramu Laxman Sakpal (retired), seated in wheelchair.
New Delhi: Defying the given perception that Covid-19 is deadly for elderly people, an 98-year-old war veteran from Mumbai has completely recovered from novel coronavirus.
Sepoy Ramu Laxman Sakpal (retired), residing at Nerul was admitted to Indian Naval Hospital Ship Asvini in a critical state and diagnosed with Pneumonia due to Covid-19 a few weeks ago, Indian Navy spokesman Commander Vivek Madhwal said.
The veteran's condition was successfully managed at the Naval Hospital, leading to freedom from Covid-19 on August 15, India's Independence Day.
Sepoy Sakpal, from the Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army, has seen it all – the immediate aftermath of the Spanish flu to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
His successful recovery exemplifies the strength and endurance of the human spirit in adversity, he added.
The War Veteran was accorded a warm farewell at INHS Asvini, the primary naval healthcare centre in the war against Covid-19 and managing the care of serving and retired Covid-19 patients from the Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Given the daily increase of nearly 1,000 deaths, India is edging towards the grim 50,000-mark in the total number of deaths due to the novel coronavirus so far.
On Sunday, the country recorded 63,489 new cases and 944 deaths taking the tally to 25,89,682 cases including 49,980 deaths and over 18 lakh recoveries.
Mizoram is currently the only state in India with less than 1,000 cases of the novel coronavirus apart from Lakshadweep, which continues to be coronavirus-free, with no cases having been detected on the islands so far.
