Even as the Covid-19 case count crosses 15 lakh in the country, stories of human triumph over the deadly virus are coming to the fore. Residents of steel city Bokaro are literally displaying nerves of steel, with a 93-year-old staging a quick recovery that will put youngsters to shame, while a 1.5 year old baby managed to remain unaffected despite being in close proximity with her Covid positive parents.

The 93-year-old man, who was detected with coronavirus a week ago, got fully cured and returned home after getting discharged from a Covid care centre of the district health department. He was the eldest among the 156 detected Covid-19 positive in the district, till now. The elderly man now stands as an example of strength among locals, who are wary of the deadly virus.

The nonagenarian is a resident of Kurpania under Bermo Sub-Division. On his return, his family members, neighbours and relatives accorded a hero’s welcome by garlanding him and serving his favourite food. Neighbours came out of their houses and clapped on his arrival. He smiled and said, “Corona se darna nahi hai, ehtiyat baratana hai aur ladna hai (there is nothing to be afraid of corona, we have to fight by taking precaution).”

He was among the 11 corona patients who were recently discharged. Civil surgeon Dr A K Pathak said that the old man was detected Covid positive on July 21. He had contracted the disease through a male member of his family, who had returned from Kolkata. The 93-year-old’s family was extremely worried considering his advanced age.

“He has no disease like sugar or blood pressure, and he was asymptomatic. The positive thing with him was that he was very punctual in having his meals. At this age, it is difficult to fight this disease, but he won the battle. We have asked him to be in home quarantine for 14 days,” said Dr Pathak.

Just like he was eldest Covid patient in the district till date, the youngest was a four-year-old girl, who also defeated Covid-19 and got cured on July 1. She was admitted in the Covid ward of Bokaro General Hospital (BGH). The doctors gave her a grand farewell, too. They clapped and gave her flower bouquets on her discharge. She was admitted with her parents as they were all detected positive on their arrival here from Jammu.

Another case that has managed to hog the limelight is that of a 1.5-year-old daughter of a Covid-19 positive couple. Despite staying with her parents for nearly a fortnight in the Covid ward of BGH, she did not get infected with the virus. In fact, there were 47 positive patients in Covid ward, but the baby, despite staying amid them, came out uninfected on July 22. SDO, Chas, Shashi Prakash Singh presented a flower bouquet to the baby and gave her best wishes during their discharge.

Bokaro recorded four Covid deaths so far. As of now, there are 68 active cases in the district. Eighty six persons have got cured.