113-year-old Spanish woman survives coronavirus

A 113-year-old Spanish woman has beaten the coronavirus at a retirement home where several other residents died from the disease, reports said quoting residence.

Maria Branyas, believed to be the oldest person living in Spain, was born in the US, became infected in April at the Santa Maria del Tura care home in the eastern city of Olot, where she has lived for the past 20 years, and fought the respiratory illness off in isolation in her room.

"She survived the disease and is doing fine," a spokeswoman for the residence told AFP, adding Branyas had only displayed mild symptoms.

"She feels good now, she took a test last week and the result was negative," the spokeswoman said without giving further details.

In the video Branyas can be heard calling the staff at the residence "very kind, very attentive".

When an employee asks her for the secret of her long life, Branyas replies simply that she is lucky to enjoy "good health".

The care home has recorded "several" virus-related deaths during the pandemic, the spokeswoman for the residence said.

Spain has been one of the worst affected countries in the pandemic, with nearly 27,000 COVID-19 deaths confirmed so far, according to health ministry figures.

The elderly are especially vulnerable and in Spain as in other European countries the coronavirus has claimed many victims among seniors living in retirement homes.

(With inputs from AFP)