Archbishop emeritus of Bengaluru diagnosed with mild COVID symptoms

Bengaluru: Archbishop emeritus of Bangalore Bernard Moras has been diagnosed with mild symptoms of COVID-19 on July 3.

A statement released by the Archbishop of Bangalore Peter Machadao stated that his the condition of Archbishop Emeritus is stable.

"Most Reverend Bernard Moras, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore, had gone to St. John's Medical College for a routine check-up on July 2 as he was not well.

Yesterday, it was confirmed that he has mild symptoms of COVID-19 and the doctors have stated that his condition at present is stable."

The Archbishop Emeritus is aged about 78.

With the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases church services for the pubic will be temporarily stopped from July 5. The state government has announced every Sunday to be a full curfew day.

Archbishop Peter Machado has also requested that church services, even with a few people, be stopped in Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural districts. This order is applicable even to parishes celebrating weekday Masses until now in Bangalore Urban and Rural districts.

However, churches in these districts may be kept open for private visits; and Holy Communion may be given only at a particular time, with prior information to the people, and after strictly implementing the standard operating procedures inside and outside the churches.

As regards celebration of liturgies with minimum number of people in the districts of Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Ramanagara and Tumkuru, the same may be continued with maximum caution in consultation with the respective deans, taking into consideration the standard operating procedures inside and outside the Churches.

However, if the Government brings about total lockdown in these districts, consequent to the surge of cases, Archbishop has requested the Parish Priests in these districts too, to refrain from celebration of public liturgies, until further notice.