Burkina Faso Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo Tests Positive for Coronavirus; Cases are Increasing in Africa

Ouagadougou: Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo of Burkina Faso has tested positive for the coronavirus. The Cardinal himself announced it through a note from the Vicar General, Fr. Alfred Ouédraogo “We want to inform you that we received the results of the test from the Archbishop. The test is positive and His Eminence has been transferred to the former Les Genêts clinic”, says the note. “The Cardinal asked to forward the information to the people of God. He asked to remain united in prayer for him, for all the other sick people and for those who take care of them”, he added.

Cardinal Ouédraogo had been tested on the night of March 27-28 before going into self-isolation pending the results. Previously also His Exc. Mgr. Séraphin François Rouamba, Archbishop emeritus of Koupèla, had tested positive for Covid-19.

Burkina Faso has the largest documented coronavirus outbreak in West Africa, with 261 documented cases as of March 31, 32 recovered and 14 died. On March 18, the local Episcopal Conference adopted all the necessary measures to contain the coronavirus, according to what established by the civil authorities, suspending, in the whole national territory, all the celebrations and pastoral activities, urging the use of the media for the broadcast of Masses and other religious services.

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Africa are: South Africa 1,353; Algeria 716; Egypt 710; Morocco 617; Tunisia 394: Burkina Faso 261; Cameroon 209; Ivory Coast 179; Senegal 175; Ghana 161; Mauritius 143; Nigeria 139; DRC 109 (Agenzia Fides)