Nine elderly nuns of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) have died in the past eight days due to a COVID-19 outbreak in their convent in Quezon City.
The nuns were all from the St. Joseph Home, a building inside the RVM compound on N. Domingo Street that houses the elderly and the infirm.
“Nine Sisters have passed away, all in the age range of 70 to 98 years, and with comorbidities,” read a report on CBCP News on September 23.
The report, quoting the RVM Secretariat’s statement, said the first COVID-related death inside the convent was recorded on September 13, and the most recent was on September 21.
The RVM compound has been on lockdown since September 15 after 62 nuns and 52 lay personnel tested positive for the coronavirus.
The congregation said many communities reside in different buildings inside the compound, but the nuns and lay staff are only in one building.
“Among the 62 Sisters afflicted, two are already fully recovered, 38 are experiencing mild/moderate symptoms, and 13 are considered severe,” read the RVM statement.
It said the affected nuns and personnel continue to be monitored and receive treatment.
As of Wednesday, the RMV said that 50 of the 52 lay personnel who had tested positive of COVID-19 “are on the way to full recovery.”
Meanwhile, the congregation has appealed for understanding in their request for privacy for the patients “and enable us to focus time and attention on their complete healing and full recovery.”
The RVM also warned the public against “fraudulent solicitation drives” on behalf of the congregation.
Philippine health officials said on Wednesday evening that there are indications that COVID-19 infections nationwide may be on a downward trend.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said said the latest figure — 15,992 new infections — is significantly lower than the over 20,000 cases recorded daily in past weeks.
“It appears that there’s a decrease in the new cases being recorded, which hopefully will continue so that we will have a reversal of the trend and see a decrease in cases,” said Duque.
Metro Manila still has the most number of new cases, at 3,627, followed by the Calabarzon Region with 3,123 cases, Central Luzon with 1,549, Cavite province with 1,174, Quezon City with 1,015, and Rizal province with 678. – with a report from CBCP News
