Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo of Jaro in the central Philippine province of Iloilo is in stable condition after being tested positive of the coronavirus disease.
“The archbishop has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now under medical care at a hospital here,” said Father Angelo Colada in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.
Father Colada, social communications director of the archdiocese, said all the close contacts of the prelate were already tested and were found negative of the virus.
The priest said the bishop might have been contracted the virus from his driver who also tested positive of the disease.
“The 14 people, mostly priests, those in the seminary, and the people staying with him in the residence all tested negative, except his driver,” said Father Colada.
“The archbishop’s residence is on lockdown,” said the priest, adding that the offices at the ground floor of the archbishop’s residence are closed.
The city government of Iloilo has imposed a hard lockdown from Aug. 3 to Aug. 8 to slow the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.
The priest said the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral is safe of the virus and the faithful can attend religious celebrations.
Father Colada appealed to the faithful to pray for the archbishop’s immediate recovery.
Archbishop Laso is the first bishop in the country to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on March 15, 2021. He is the 12th Catholic bishop in the country to have been infected by the disease.
“The archbishop, among us priests, was the first to get vaccinated to set an example to our faithful in the archdiocese. It is important to get vaccinated because it would help us even if we get positive,” he said.
Father Colada said most of the priests and religious in the archdiocese have already received their COVID-19 shots.
