Europe’s oldest person survives COVID just before 117th birthday

Lucile Randon, who in 1944 became Sister Andre, tested positive for coronavirus last month despite not showing any symptoms. However, she managed to completely conquer the virus, just in time to celebrate her 117th birthday.

Europe’s oldest person survives COVID

Sister Andre tested positive for coronavirus on the 16th of January, the French nun explained to local media that she didn’t even realise that she was sick.

The nun was then isolated from the other residents of her retirement home in Toulon until she was considered to be fully recovered. Sister Andre, who is both blind and wheelchair-bound will now be able to celebrate her 117th birthday this Thursday, albeit with a small circle of friends.

Spokesman for the Sainte Catherine Labouré retirement home, David Tavella explained that the Sister has been ‘very lucky’:

She didn't ask me about her health, but about her habits. For example, she wanted to know if meal or bedtime schedules would change. She showed no fear of the disease. On the other hand, she was very concerned about the other residents.

He continued:

We consider her to be cured. She is very calm and she is looking forward to celebrating her 117th birthday.

‘I wasn't scared to die’

Sister Andre, who is also the second oldest person in the world (behind 118-year-old Kane Tanaka) spoke to French broadcaster BFM explaining that she wasn’t scared of COVID:

No, I wasn't scared, because I wasn't scared to die. I'm happy to be with you, but I would wish to be somewhere else - to join my big brother, and my grandfather and my grandmother.

However, not all residents of the Sainte Catherine Labouré retirement home were as lucky as Sister Andre. In January, 81 of 88 residents had tested positive for the virus and according to news outlet Var-Matin, about 10 of them had sadly passed away.