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Health Check: Incredible tale of Covid family survival in Spain

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A coronavirus (Covid 19) patient is seen at the COVID-19 IFEMA Hospital on April 23, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.

2020/07/15 GMT

Incredible tale of Covid family survival in Spain

BBC World Service - Health Check, Incredible tale of Covid family survival in Spain

Three generations of a family hospitalised in Spain because of Covid

Slow recovery for three generations of Spanish family hospitalised because of Covid; New oxygen plant at Malawi hospital helps Covid patients; hope for Soviet era antiseptic

We hear how three generations of one Spanish family all survived Covid infections - including a 96 year old grandmother.  27-year-old Pau from Barcelona fell ill 3 months ago and he, his mother, father and grandmother all ended up in hospital - with only the cat left at home.  The experience has had a huge impact on all of them and their recovery is slow. 

People are admitted to hospital with Covid mainly because they have difficulty breathing – and oxygen can help. But in many hospitals in low and middle income countries, oxygen is in short supply. The Queen Elizabeth Central hospital in Malawi’s second city Blantyre, has just opened its own oxygen concentration plant which can produce a million litres a day. 
We hear from a doctor about the obstacles they overcame to install the oxygen plant. 

During the Cold War a non-toxic antiseptic was developed to clean Soviet spacecraft.  These days Miramistin is only used in some parts of Russia and Ukraine. A partnership between scientists in Manchester and Kiev could help to focus efforts on promoting research into the substance which can be used on surfaces and directly on skin to combat bacteria, viruses and fungi. 

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Paula McGrath

Main Image:  A coronavirus (Covid 19) patient is seen at the COVID-19 IFEMA Hospital on April 23, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.  Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

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