Pampanga archbishop tests positive for COVID-19

Florentino Lavarias

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Archbishop Florentino Lavarias, head of the Archdiocese of San Fernando in Pampanga province, has tested positive for COVID-19, the archdiocese’s vicar general, Fr. Francisco Dizon, announced on Sunday.

Lavarias, 63, “remains in stable condition,” said Dizon in a circular that he and archdiocesan chancellor Fr. Danny Nacpil jointly issued.

Dizon said people who had close contact with the prelate, including several priests, have been informed of his condition.

The circular urged members of the clergy, religious and laity in the archdiocese of 2 million Catholics to pray for his quick recovery.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said Lavarias contracted the virus as two other bishops have just recovered from the disease.

Archbishop Jose Palma and retired Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Rañola, both of Cebu, have been cleared from the virus and will be discharged from hospital confinement by today, Monday.

As of Feb. 27, at least 15 new cases were added to the 510 active COVID-19 cases in Pampanga. A total of 429 people had died due to COVID-19 in the province while 7,089 have recovered, data from the provincial health office showed.

—TONETTE OREJAS INQ