Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian of Bangued has been infected with the coronavirus disease.
The bishop himself confirmed the news in a brief statement released by the diocese on Saturday.
“Having been fully vaccinated and diligently following health protocols, COVID-19 has not escaped me,” said the bishop.
The prelate said he immediately isolated himself at home as soon as he found out he was positive.
“Anyone who had close contact with me these days, if you feel symptoms, kindly go to your [rural health units,” he added.
“I am one with all those in this situation. Let us pray for one another. God heals,” Bishop Jaucian said.
The Philippines on Saturday, August 28, recorded its highest-ever daily tally of COVID-19 cases – 19,441, pushing the country’s total confirmed cases past the 1.9-million mark.
With the latest numbers, the Philippines’ total caseload is now at 1,935,700.
The Department of Health also reported 167 new deaths, raising the death toll to 33,008.
Meanwhile, 19,191 new recoveries were recorded, bringing the total recoveries to 1,760,013.
This is the highest number of recoveries reported since April 25, when 20,509 recoveries were reported.
The new record was anticipated as recent positivity rates rose.
On Saturday, the positivity rate was pegged at 27.5% of 71,620 people tested, which means that more than one in four people tested was positive for the virus.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the health department expected the number of cases to “continue to increase in the coming days.”
She attributed the spike to the highly infectious Delta COVID-19 variant.
