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Coronavirus

Health officials in Siaya County Monday launched a search for an unknown number of people who interacted with the priest who recently returned from Rome and had since tested positive for coronavirus.

Kenyan Priest Tests Positive for COVID-19 after Defying Self-Quarantine Directive

Mar 24, 2020

A Kenyan Catholic priest has tested positive for COVID-19 days after returning to his country from Italy, the country most hit by the deadly virus, a confirmation that has raised concerns that the cleric might have infected multiple people in the East African country since he defied the government’s 14-day self-quarantine directive.

Ghanaians will, on Wednesday, March 25, being the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, observe a National Day of Prayer and fasting, seeking God’s intervention over COVID-19.

Ghana Declares Solemnity of Annunciation National Day of Prayer over COVID-19

Mar 24, 2020

Ghanaians will, on Wednesday, March 25, observe a National Day of Prayer and fasting, seeking God’s intervention over COVID-19 following a directive from Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo after the country announced on Saturday, March 21 that the number of people infected with the disease had reached 21.

Statistics on COVID-19 cases in the world

Public Masses to Continue in Nigeria, Congo Brazzaville with Limited Congregation

Mar 24, 2020

As governments in Africa put in place a raft of measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Catholic Church leaders in Nigeria and Congo Brazzaville have, in separate statements, allowed the celebration of public Mass amid certain precautionary measures, including a limited number of those in attendance.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Mutahi Kagwe addresses the media at Afya House in Nairobi on the coronavirus update on March 23, 2020.

Kenya Orders Closure of Places of Worship over COVID-19, Tanzania for Public Worship

Mar 24, 2020

The immediate closure of all places of worship in Kenya was among the raft of measures the government announced Sunday, March 22 in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 after the confirmed cases of the deadly virus increased more than twofold from 7 to 15, while in neighboring Tanzania, the country’s President was reported encouraging public worship.

Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

At Least 60 Italian Priests Have Died After Contracting Coronavirus

Mar 24, 2020

In the past week alone, more than 3,000 people have died in Italy after contracting the coronavirus. Among the dead are at least 60 priests this month, according to local media reports.

Image of Our Lady of Fatima in Lisbon's cathedral. / Kate Veik/CNA

Portuguese Bishops Invite Nations of the World to Be Consecrated at Fatima

Mar 24, 2020

On the Solemnity of the Annunciation Wednesday, March 25, nations from around the world can be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in a liturgy to be celebrated at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima.  

A Poster announcing Saturday's National Prayer at State House, Nairobi, Kenya.

Call to Repentance Marks National Prayer Day over COVID-19 at Kenya’s State House

Mar 23, 2020

Kenya’s religious leaders drawn from various faiths, including four Catholic Bishops and a nun, heeded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s invitation for the National Prayer Day Saturday, March 21 at the Nairobi-based State House, leading Kenyans in seeking divine intervention over COVID-19 pandemic, with the call to repentance dominating the event broadcast live on various Kenyan media outlets.

Flag of Cameroon showing some measures taken to combat COVID-19 / Alamy

Dioceses in Cameroon Maintain Public Masses, Limit Congregation Size over COVID-19

Mar 23, 2020

As Africa struggles to contain the spread of COVID-19, with at least 42 countries confirming cases of the deadly virus, Church leaders in the Central African nation of Cameroon, have maintained the celebration of public Masses in their respective dioceses and instructed that the congregation size be limited to a certain number of worshipers at a time.

Maurice Cardinal Piat, Bishop of Port Louis in Mauritius. / Diocese of Port Louis

“Resist panic, keep calm”, Cardinal Piat Tells Mauritians amid First COVID-19 Death

Mar 23, 2020

The Bishop of Port Louis diocese in Mauritius, Maurice Cardinal Piat has, in a message addressed to the faithful, appealed for calm in order to avoid the spread of the disease.

Pope Francis looks out at an empty St. Peter's Square. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis: As Humanity Trembles from Pandemic, let us Unite in Prayer

Mar 22, 2020

Pope Francis has asked Christians around the world to unite in praying the Our Father prayer at noon on March 25 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Late Bishop Justin Mulenga, 65, who passed on Friday, March 20 in his country’s capital, Lusaka.

Bishop Dies Two Days after Communicating Major Directives on COVID-19 in Zambia

Mar 21, 2020

A Catholic Bishop in Zambia has died just two days after he issued a statement with directives on COVID-19, which included the “indefinite closure of all Major Seminaries” in the Southern Africa nation.

In the wake of the closure of schools in Ghana, an e-learning platform has been rolled out to facilitate remote teaching and learning of students in the West African country.

Ghana Rolls out E-learning Platform for High School Students amid Closure of Schools

Mar 21, 2020

In a bid to ensure that junior and senior high school students do not stay idle at home in the wake of the closure of schools in Ghana, an e-learning platform has been rolled out to facilitate remote teaching and learning of students in the West African country.

President Felix Tshisekedi and Archbishop Marcel Utembi at a previous event

Apply Government Directives “scrupulously”: DR Congo Bishops Urge, to Contain COVID-19

Mar 21, 2020

Following Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi directives aimed at containing the possible spread of COVID-19 beyond the 14 confirmed cases, Church leaders in the central African country have urged her citizens to adhere to the measures “scrupulously.”

Credit: Thoom/Shutterstock.

Two Roman Convents Isolated As 59 Religious Sisters Test Positive for Coronavirus

Mar 21, 2020

Two convents, one in Rome and one in a town nearby the capital city, have been isolated as the majority of religious sisters in the communities tested positive for COVID-19.

Holy Family Minor Basilica, Nairobi, Kenya

"Churches will remain open" for Public Mass Celebrations, Bishops in Kenya, Uganda Direct

Mar 20, 2020

Church leaders in Kenya and Uganda have, in separate statements issued Thursday, March 19, announced that Churches will remain open in the two East African countries for public Mass, a move that has attracted both praise and condemnation from the faithful as governments take a raft of measures to contain possible spread of COVID-19.

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale  of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Church in South Africa Suspends Holy Week Celebrations amid Dwindling Resources

Mar 20, 2020

As South Africa battles to curb the spread of COVID-19, with officials confirming the first cases of local transmission, including four children aged under six years, the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg has announced that little will be done to mark the Holy Week and Easter celebrations, even as Parishes in the Archdiocese run short of financial resources.

Logo of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC)

Bishops in Zimbabwe Exclude Children, Sick, Elderly from Attending Mass

Mar 20, 2020

While there has not been a reported case of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe, Catholic leaders in the country that is situated in Southern Africa have, as a precautionary measure, advised children, the sick, the elderly and other vulnerable groups not to attend public Mass on Sunday, in adherence to measures put in place by the government.

Bishop Laurent Birfuoré Dabiré (Centre), President of the Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso and Niger (CEBN), during the presentation of the statement of the Bishops.

Funerals, a Family Affair, Burkina Faso Bishops Say as Country Records COVID-19 Death

Mar 20, 2020

Catholic Bishops in Burkina Faso and Niger have, in a collective statement, announced the suspension of public Mass in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 after the West African nation of Burkina Faso recorded the first death due to the pandemic.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with Religious Leaders at Breakfast Prayer Meeting, Accra, Thursday, March 19. / Presidency of the Republic of Ghana

Ghana Seeks Divine Intervention amid COVID-19, President Hosts Breakfast Prayer Meeting

Mar 20, 2020

As the world struggles to contain the spread of COVID-19 with at least 34 countries in Africa declaring cases of the disease, the President of the West African nation of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has convened a breakfast prayer meeting with all Religious Leaders in the country to seek God’s intervention.

Undertakers wearing a face mask carry coffin in a cemetary in Bergamo, Italy on March 16, 2020. Credit: AFP via Getty Images

At least 28 Priests in Northern Italy Have Died From COVID-19

Mar 19, 2020

Italian dioceses surrounding Milan have reported the deaths of 30 priests during the coronavirus outbreak.