Celestino Aós was named cardinal by Pope Francis and heads the Archbishopric from 2019. | Photo: La 

Santiago de Chile, Apil 10 (RHC)-- The Archbishopric of Santiago de Chile reported through an official statement released by local media that the cardinal and archbishop of the city, the Spanish Capuchin Celestino Aós, tested positive for COVID-19 and suffers a mild discomfort. 

"After a careful medical study, the recommendation is that he remains in his residence, complying with the quarantine and all medical indications," says the statement signed by the vicar general of the Archbishopric, Cristian Roncagliolo.

The document also notifies that the auxiliary bishop of Santiago, Alberto Lorenzelli, who has been hospitalized since April 4 for being positive for COVID-19 at the Clinical Hospital of the Catholic University of Chile, has required new care. 

"In the case of Fr. Alberto Lorenzelli, his health situation is requiring new care, given the intensity of the disease," says the document, which also stresses that clinical tests have been carried out on the close contacts of both clerical authorities.

Sources close to the Archbishopric indicate that both Aós, who was appointed Cardinal by Pope Francis, and Lorenzelli had received the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Chilean Ministry of Health notified this Friday that 9,171 new cases of Covid-19 were detected in the last 24 hours, which constitutes a new record at a time when experts consider that the nation is experiencing the second wave of the pandemic.  The total number of people who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the South American country is 1,060,421 infected. 

Likewise, Chilean health authorities registered 129 deaths in the last 24 hours due to causes associated with Covid-19, which brings the total number of deaths to 24,108.