Centenarians unafraid of COVID-19 … But family members worried

WESTERN BUREAU:

Some centenarians born in or before 1918 – the year of the deadly influenza virus known as the Spanish flu or the 1918 flu pandemic – said they are not threatened by COVID-19. However, they are exercising caution.

In 1918, the Spanish flu spread rapidly across the globe, killing over 50 million people in a two-year period. The deadly disease swept through the Caribbean during the period of October 1918 to March 1919, resulting in some 100,000 deaths in the region. Jamaica was the first island to be affected, and, along with Belize and Guyana, suffered the most.

Now approximately 100 years later, the world is faced with another deadly flu-like virus. First surfacing in China in December last year, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now infected practically every country across the world, with approximately 1,697,802 cases and an estimated 102,693 deaths. Some 376,184 persons have recovered.

One month after Jamaica recorded its first COVID-19 case, the country now has 65 confirmed cases, with four fatalities and 12 persons recovered.

Born in October 1918, Iris Vassell, 101, of Westmoreland, is among the privileged and extremely healthy Jamaican centenarians who are today grateful that their families survived the Spanish flu.

“My mother said that quite a number of people died. It was so bad, they had to bury more than one person in the same grave. People just start having fever, sneezing and coughing then they passed off. She said a lot of people in Westmoreland died. You will hear someone say one man died and little after that, all three and four persons died in that house in one day,” the 101-year-old recalled to The Sunday Gleaner.

NOT FAZED

With the world now facing a new public-health threat, Vassell said she is not fazed by it.

“Oh no, I am not fearful of this one. Sometimes I don’t even remember if they don’t talk about it (coronavirus). I am careful, though. I don’t go anywhere, I wash my hands and I keep clean,” she noted.

Her daughter, however, is taking no chances. Christine Davidson, who is a retired nurse, said she is taking the necessary precautions to protect her mother from contracting COVID-19.

“We follow all the precautionary measures outlined by the health ministry. We are not taking any visitors and not going anywhere, so she is not interacting with people,” Davidson said.

Keenly aware of the devastating impact of the pandemic a century ago, Vassell is urging the population to adhere to the measures implemented to stem the spread of COVID-19.

“Obey the rules that are laid out by the health department and trust the Lord, He will touch you. Don’t mix, don’t go in crowded areas, don’t take in visitors because you don’t know who is carrying the virus. You must stay put [at home],” the centenarian warned.

The oldest living person in Jamaica is 115-year-old Charles James of Westmoreland. Although he would have been 13 years old at the time of the Spanish flu outbreak, the super-centurion could not recall any memory of that period.

High-risk Category

Charles, who has no known co-morbidity, said he is not fearful of COVID-19, despite his age placing him in the high-risk category.

“I am not afraid of any sickness. No, I am not afraid to die even if I should get sick,” James shared.

Fritz James, 79, son of Charles James, who escaped the coronavirus outbreak in New York when he returned to Jamaica on March 14, said the family is worried and is taking the necessary precautions to protect his father from the respiratory disease.

Fear also looms after Charles’ other son, Roy, who lives in England, contracted COVID-19 almost a month ago but has since recovered.

“I know everyone is following the rules to keep him safe. I wanted to see him for Easter but I’m hesitant, because I’m doing my best to keep him and myself safe,” said Fritz who lives in Manchester.

While not being able to recall any events of the 1918 pandemic, 108-year-old Jane Mathilda Brown Marrett, who was a mere child then, immediately made the comparison to what she heard of the cholera outbreak in the 1850s when she was told about COVID-19.

“I never heard about the Spanish flu, but my mother told me stories about the cholera outbreak from what she heard, and how so many people got sick and died so fast. Some infected people were even buried alive to stop the spread of the disease,” said Melvena Marrett Thomas, the daughter of Jane.

Melvena said the family was doing what was necessary to protect her mother, who lives in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, from falling victim to COVID-19.

“At her age, she is very strong and so we are not fearful that death may come to her by way of this COVID-19 virus at this time. However, we have taken all precautions by restricting visitors, and for those of us who live here, we make sure that we sanitise ourselves before entering her room or tending to her,” Melvena said.

Taking Precautions

With reports showing that senior citizens were most susceptible to COVID-19, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions, centenarian Adina Phillips of Daniel Town, Trelawny, is also wary.

“I am not worried about the virus because I am taking care of myself and I have other people who take care of the things I can’t do for myself,” Phillips, who was diagnosed with pneumonia a few years ago, shared.

“As far as I can recall, this is the worst disease that I heard of since I was born. I have lived for so long, I am all of 102 years old, so I can’t afford this coronavirus to come and take my life now.”

Phillips’ son, Jasper Rhoden, admits that he is very concerned for his mother, even while the family is optimistic that COVID-19 will not reach her because of the preventive steps being taken.

“She has pneumonia and I am worried that if she should become infected with COVID-19, it could cause severe pain and eventually weaken her immune system, further putting her life at risk,” Rhoden said.

As for Virginia Atkinson Johnson, 108, of Caledonia in Westmoreland, while she understands the need for people to maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus, she missed being able to hug her caregivers or other family members.

“Lord Jesus! This is a sign that the coming of the Lord is very near. I can’t greet and hug my friends and family anymore, all because of this virus,” Atkinson Johnson declared.

editorial@gleanerjm.com