Sister André is 2-0 in pandemics.

Happening in the World: French Nun Sister André, Europe’s oldest person (and the world’s second-oldest) has beaten COVID-19 after testing positive just weeks before her 117th birthday. Born on February 11, 1904, in Alès, France, she remarkably has lived through both World Wars and the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic (CNN). 

Happening in the US: The US State Department announced that while it would welcome the World Health Organization’s (WHO) findings of its investigation into the origin of COVID-19, it will use the US intelligence community to “reach [its] own conclusions.” The WHO’s report notably stated that it was “extremely unlikely” that the coronavirus came from a lab in China, but was unable to offer a clear consensus of the virus’s origins (US News). 

Happening in NYC: Governor Cuomo has announced a new state and federal partnership to open mass vaccine sites in “socially vulnerable communities,” amidst racial and ethnic vaccine disparities within New York. The first two sites will open in at York College in Queens and Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. The sites, targeting communities of color and low-income communities, will be able to administer close to 3,000 vaccinations a day over an eight-week period (NBC New York).  

Happening in Our Community: Calling all politically active teens and public policy fiends! Join Barnard’s Athena Center for Leadership in learning how to craft an effective policy brief this Friday, February 12 from 2-4 pm EST. Register here

Cover Song of the Week: “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor (originally by Prince) 

rendition of nun via Snappy Goat