MORE Church and government officials from the Visayas have been infected with the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
In a statement, the Office of the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Cebu confirmed Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus Antonio R. Rañola was hospitalized last Friday due to severe coughing after testing positive for Covid-19.
As of Saturday, Rañola’s vital signs were already stable, but he remains under close medical supervision by his doctors.
Aside from Rañola, other members of the Cebu clergy who were also infected with Covid-19 are Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma and Fr. Russel Sungcad.
Rañola is the eighth Covid-infected bishop. Besides him and Palma, the others earlier infected were: Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Prefect Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Ilagan Bishop David William Antonio, Caloocan Bishop Emeritus Deogracias Iñiguez, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, and Imus Bishop Emeritus Manuel Sobreviñas.
Cruz and Sobreviñas passed away after their infection.
In a related development, Presidential Communication Secretary Martin Andanar said that Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Diño is now infected with Covid-19.
Andanar sought prayers for Diño, who is still recovering from the infection.
“May Secretary Diño’s recovery be immediate in order for him to continue fulfilling his duties and in assisting the President and the whole Duterte administration in the fight against and recovery from the pandemic in the Visayas,” Andanar said in a statement.