COVID-19 infected priest celebrates mass, baptism in Guimaras after being told he was negative

A priest who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Jordan, Guimaras celebrated mass and administered baptism last week after he was falsely  told that he was negative for the illness.

According to John Sala’s report on “24 Oras,” the priest from St. John the Baptist Church and his secretary took an RT-PCR test on Friday after they were exposed to the close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual.

The Municipal Health Office then told the priest that he was negative for the illness after 24 hours, leading him to continue with his Sunday duties.

However, he was told the morning after that his test results were switched with his secretary and that he was positive for the illness.

Rev. Fr. Anghelo Colada, the director of the Social Communications-Archdiocese of Jaro, explained that the priest celebrated the mass “in good faith” as he was told that he was negative.

“So that’s why, in good faith, ginawa niya ang kaniyang tungkulin dahil negative siya. Unfortunately, nag positive siya,” Colada said.

Meanwhile, the local government immediately conducted contact tracing.

Due to the incident, a driver, a cook and one more priest are currently being isolated at the church. The church has also been placed under lockdown.

“Ang mga misa ng patay sa bahay na lang at pari sa katabing parokya ang tumutulong, especially sa scheduled services,” Colada said.

The positive priest is asymptomatic and is currently undergoing quarantine.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News