Yap Lay Hong, who made headlines around the world last year as the oldest COVID-19 survivor, has passed away at the age of 103. The nursing home where she resided announced her death on Monday. The "Li Ah Mooi" nursing home stated that she died in the hospital on Sunday morning after suffering from intestinal obstruction, expressing "mixed feelings of sorrow over the death of someone who inspired us all."
The home highlighted that "Yap had been with us for three years... known among our staff for her resilience, independent spirit, and fighting attitude," noting that "she always took care of herself, from her daily meals to her appearance."
It is worth mentioning that Yap was among a hundred individuals recognized worldwide last year for surviving COVID-19, following weeks of revelations that elderly individuals with serious health conditions were at high risk of death if infected. Her COVID-19 test was positive during the only lockdown due to the pandemic, which lasted from April to June of last year. Singapore's death toll associated with the pandemic is among the lowest in the world, with 62 deaths, while vaccination rates are among the highest globally, exceeding 80 percent among adults.
