Archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Celestino Aós, is hospitalized for the coronavirus

The cardinal and archbishop of Santiago de Chile, the Spanish capuchin Celestino Aós, was admitted this Saturday at the Clinical Hospital of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, as a “preventive measure” after testing positive for coronavirus on Friday, informed the Archbishopric of the Chilean capital.

“Although the effects of the disease are moderate, they need to be addressed with specialized equipment to avoid possible complications.” Expressed the Vicar General, Cristian Roncagliolo, in a statement.

The auxiliary bishop of Santiago, Alberto Lorenzelli, who entered the same hospital complex a few days after he began to experience the symptoms of COVID-19, has also been hospitalized since last Sunday.

From the institution, they reported that Lorenzelli’s health status “has not had significant changes” in the last 24 hours and he still needs hospital care.

Both bishops had already received the two doses of the vaccine from the Chinese laboratory Sinovac according to the Chilean vaccination schedule and the last dose had been obtained on March 11, the statement said.

Aós, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile since December 2019, he was appointed cardinal by the Pope Francisco in the consistory on November 28.

Chile, which adds more than 1 million total infections of COVID-19 and almost 25,200 deaths, has been experiencing the most critical moments of the entire health crisis for weeks, with a second wave that worsened after the summer holidays, and that has put the hospital system on the ropes.