British man creates world record for being COVID-19 positive for longest time

Team Udayavani, Jun 25, 2021, 4:27 PM IST

London: A resident of Bristol in the UK was infected with COVID-19 for more than 10 months (305 days) making a world record for the longest time being infected with the novel coronavirus.

Dave Smith (72), first tested positive in April 2020 during the first wave and continuously tested positive for the virus 43 times.

He was treated for leukaemia in 2019.

During the period he was infected, Smith was hospitalised 7 times and lost more than 50 kilograms.

Genetic sequencing of the virus by the doctors confirmed that he did not have any reinfection and was infected with the same virus.

After many courses of medicines, Smith was treated with a new anti-viral drug by US pharma company Regeneron after which he started feeling better in the next few weeks.

Almost a month and a half after receiving the drug he finally tested negative for the virus.