Coronavirus: UAE hospital staff cheer as youngest ICU patient beats virus

Hervie Emmanuel Magos, 9, and his parents were admitted to hospital in Abu Dhabi four weeks ago

Hervie Emmanuel Magos is overcome by emotion as staff at Sheikh Khalifa hospital clap as he gets the all-clear. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Media Office

A nine-year-old boy has become the youngest intensive care patient in the UAE to beat Covid-19.

Hervie Emmanuel Magos was cheered by staff at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi as he was given the all-clear on Tuesday.

The Filipino was overcome by emotion before joining in clapping in gratitude to doctors and nurses.

He was first admitted to hospital along with his parents on March 22. He spent two weeks in intensive care before he stabilised and was moved to a regular ward on April 11.

Hervie's mother Hermali, 41, and father, Viterbo, 40, have since recovered.

They loved my son. I could feel the love. I can't explain it

"At one point we were going to lose him," his mother told The National.

“We all had a fever, a cough and body aches but Hervie’s left lung got infected."

Mr Magos was the first to show symptoms five weeks ago and was later placed in intensive care.

“The worst feeling was not knowing if your family will survive or not and the feeling that it was my fault," he said.

"That I would lose my wife and son because of something I did. I put them in danger."

While most cases of Covid-19 are mild, the family's symptoms were at the very serious end of the spectrum.

“I could not breathe and was exhausted from the slightest movement," said Mr Magos, who works in marketing.

His wife said she was "delirious" at one stage due to the fever.

"But I did not have time to be scared. My only concern was keeping my family safe," she said.

“The worst part was not being able to see my son and comfort him. That we were all not together was hard."

The family thanked medical staff for their tireless efforts to care for their son.

“They loved my son. I could feel the love. I can't explain it," she said of SKMC's medical team.

"They felt how difficult it was that I was not able to see my son whose condition was critical."

Patients must undergo several negative tests to ensure the virus has fully left the body. They can expect to spend some time in quarantine on their release.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, shared a touching video of the moment Hervie was given the news.

He congratulated him on his delayed birthday and on "celebrating life".

The number of cases in the Emirates has grown by between 400 and 500 each day as the country ramps up testing.

To date, there were 7,775 confirmed with 46 deaths.

The number of recoveries stood 1,443 and was expected to grow as patients pass the three or four week mark.

On Tuesday, about 150 people were discharged from an 'isolation village' in Dubai's Al Warsan district after receiving the all-clear.

Speaking earlier this month, Dr Adil Sajwani, a Ministry of Health and Prevention official, said the vast majority of confirmed cases were mild.

“Every day the number of people is increasing and this is because testing is increasing," he said.

"Most of the cases are mild and many of them receive no treatment.

“Only some cases need treatment but, again, we will not reach zero cases soon."