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She’s 108, Lived Through the Spanish Flu and Just Beat Covid-19 She’s 108, Lived Through the Spanish Flu and Just Beat Covid-19
(about 1 month later)
Last month, relatives of Sylvia Goldsholl received troubling news from her New Jersey nursing home: She had contracted the coronavirus and was in isolation.Last month, relatives of Sylvia Goldsholl received troubling news from her New Jersey nursing home: She had contracted the coronavirus and was in isolation.
With the virus proving especially deadly for older people, the prognosis seemed dire for Ms. Goldsholl, who turned 108 in December.With the virus proving especially deadly for older people, the prognosis seemed dire for Ms. Goldsholl, who turned 108 in December.
“This is killing people in nursing homes all over New Jersey and the country,” said Nancy Chazen, a niece of Ms. Goldsholl. “Quite honestly, I thought that was going to be the end — I mean, she’s 108.”“This is killing people in nursing homes all over New Jersey and the country,” said Nancy Chazen, a niece of Ms. Goldsholl. “Quite honestly, I thought that was going to be the end — I mean, she’s 108.”
Two weeks later, relatives received another call.Two weeks later, relatives received another call.
“They told us, ‘She’s fully recovered,’” said Ms. Chazen, whose aunt has become one of the oldest Covid-19 survivors in the world.“They told us, ‘She’s fully recovered,’” said Ms. Chazen, whose aunt has become one of the oldest Covid-19 survivors in the world.
Ms. Goldsholl’s case is a rare bright spot in New Jersey, whose current death toll from the virus — 9,946 through Thursday — is second only to New York State’s.Ms. Goldsholl’s case is a rare bright spot in New Jersey, whose current death toll from the virus — 9,946 through Thursday — is second only to New York State’s.
Roughly half of the deaths in New Jersey — 5,168 through Thursday — have come at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.Roughly half of the deaths in New Jersey — 5,168 through Thursday — have come at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Nationwide, roughly one-third of the 86,607 coronavirus deaths have been nursing home patients or workers.Nationwide, roughly one-third of the 86,607 coronavirus deaths have been nursing home patients or workers.
Long-term care facilities have become hot spots, filled with a vulnerable population and requiring close interactions between residents and caretakers, many of whom have complained that they had not received enough protective equipment.Long-term care facilities have become hot spots, filled with a vulnerable population and requiring close interactions between residents and caretakers, many of whom have complained that they had not received enough protective equipment.
Ms. Goldsholl, who lives in the Allendale Community for Senior Living in Allendale, N.J., was born on Dec. 29, 1911, and grew up in the Bronx, the eldest of four children of Russian immigrant parents.Ms. Goldsholl, who lives in the Allendale Community for Senior Living in Allendale, N.J., was born on Dec. 29, 1911, and grew up in the Bronx, the eldest of four children of Russian immigrant parents.
As a child she lived through the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 and 1919, and she also lived through two world wars and the Great Depression.As a child she lived through the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 and 1919, and she also lived through two world wars and the Great Depression.
“She’s Forrest Gump,” said a nephew, Larry Goldsholl.“She’s Forrest Gump,” said a nephew, Larry Goldsholl.
Ms. Goldsholl told News 12 New Jersey that, “I survived everything because I was determined to survive.”Ms. Goldsholl told News 12 New Jersey that, “I survived everything because I was determined to survive.”
Larry Goldsholl said that when he heard his aunt had contracted the virus, “we didn’t know what to think because she has survived so much at this point.”Larry Goldsholl said that when he heard his aunt had contracted the virus, “we didn’t know what to think because she has survived so much at this point.”
“We thought, ‘Well, this could be it,’ but knowing Sylvia, I should have known better,” he said. “She’s pretty spunky, and it seems like people who live that long have good immune systems.”“We thought, ‘Well, this could be it,’ but knowing Sylvia, I should have known better,” he said. “She’s pretty spunky, and it seems like people who live that long have good immune systems.”
Michael Brienza, an administrator for the Allendale center, said Ms. Goldsholl was never hospitalized or put on a ventilator.Michael Brienza, an administrator for the Allendale center, said Ms. Goldsholl was never hospitalized or put on a ventilator.
“She’s got a survivor’s mentality,” he said. “Her family supported her through all this and, like she says, love helps you get through things.”“She’s got a survivor’s mentality,” he said. “Her family supported her through all this and, like she says, love helps you get through things.”
A 108-year-old man in New Mexico has also survived the virus.A 108-year-old man in New Mexico has also survived the virus.
At his daily briefing on the virus on Thursday, Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey hailed Ms. Goldsholl — “a tremendous life, a tremendous spirit, and a tremendous show of strength” — as a role model.At his daily briefing on the virus on Thursday, Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey hailed Ms. Goldsholl — “a tremendous life, a tremendous spirit, and a tremendous show of strength” — as a role model.
Ms. Goldsholl worked as a bookkeeper and never married or had children, her relatives said. She lived in her childhood home until moving to New Jersey 20 years ago and finally moved into the center in Allendale 13 years ago.Ms. Goldsholl worked as a bookkeeper and never married or had children, her relatives said. She lived in her childhood home until moving to New Jersey 20 years ago and finally moved into the center in Allendale 13 years ago.
Updated June 24, 2020
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
Officials at the home described her as an inquisitive person who likes smart conversation and who is known as “Big Sister” for her outspokenness and her advocacy for fellow residents.Officials at the home described her as an inquisitive person who likes smart conversation and who is known as “Big Sister” for her outspokenness and her advocacy for fellow residents.
She uses a wheelchair and has lost some vision and hearing in recent years, relatives said, but she remains active and social, whether playing bingo or holding court in the center’s dining room.She uses a wheelchair and has lost some vision and hearing in recent years, relatives said, but she remains active and social, whether playing bingo or holding court in the center’s dining room.
“You’ll never find her sitting alone in her room — she’s always with people,” Ms. Chazen said, adding that her aunt has always stuck up for others.“You’ll never find her sitting alone in her room — she’s always with people,” Ms. Chazen said, adding that her aunt has always stuck up for others.
“She has always had a reputation for speaking up,” Ms. Chazen said. “If she thinks something is unfair, she’ll make sure people know.”“She has always had a reputation for speaking up,” Ms. Chazen said. “If she thinks something is unfair, she’ll make sure people know.”
“If she wants to mail a letter to the mayor of New York City, she’ll mail the letter,” she said.“If she wants to mail a letter to the mayor of New York City, she’ll mail the letter,” she said.
“I don’t know her secret to longevity,” her nephew said, “but she’s very feisty.”“I don’t know her secret to longevity,” her nephew said, “but she’s very feisty.”