Eight of the 62 nuns from the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary Sisters in Quezon City who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.
“Eight of the sisters, aged 90s and 80s, afflicted with COVID, returned home to our heavenly Father,” said RVM spokesperson Sister Ma. Anicia Co.
Apart from the 62 nuns who contracted the disease, some 52 personnel of the convent also tested positive for the virus.
“The personnel are still young so they are on the road to recovery. Some Sisters are moving from symptomatic to asymptomatic,” she added.
Some 19 nuns from the Stella Maris Convent, also in Quezon City, reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
Co, however, dismissed previous reports that there was an outbreak inside the convent due to the non-vaccination of the RVM nuns and staff.
Only the eight nuns who passed away were not able to avail of the vaccination because of their lingering ailments, she said.
The rest got their first dose of the vaccine in May and June, while the second dose was administered sometime in July.
“It was not the decision of the RVM congregation, nor the leaders nor the Sister Administrator of the St. Joseph Home that they would not be vaccinated. The Sister Administrator actually followed up later for their vaccination but it did not come soon,” Co said.
“Please pray for us, especially our Sisters in St. Joseph Home. May our Sisters come to full recovery. May God grant strength to our other Sisters in the communities in the compound strength to continue serving the affected community,” she added.