FactCheck: Can Jesus alone cure Corona? Here is what Church report says

Telangana state health director G Srinivas Rao stoked controversy and said, “Christians are the reason behind India’s development.” He made these remarks while attending a Christmas program. He also said that India is rising because of Christianity only.

As countries worldwide are witnessing a sudden rise in Covid-19 cases, India is also gearing up to ensure that the global spurt does not bring a major wave to the country. Amid all this, Telangana Health Director G Srinivas Rao has stoked a row with his statement crediting Christianity for the handling of the coronavirus situation.

“Covid-19 subsided because of Jesus. Indians survived because of Christianity.” He even went on to say that the situation was not handled well as the treatment provided by doctors but because of the kindness of Jesus. These statements were made during a semi-Christmas event organized by Dr GSR Charitable Trust in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana. G Srinivas Rao is the key functionary of the said trust.

Nijam Today attempts to bring the facts of the statement made by the Telangana State health director. On 29th May 2021, the official website of the Vatican Church www.vaticannews.va/ published a report titled “India: more than 400 priests and nuns have died of Covid-19“ in which it stated that at least 400 priests and nuns have died in India due to Covid-19. As per the report, most of them were at the height of the country’s devastating second wave of infections in April and May of 2021.  The report was based on the figures provided by Capuchin priest Father Suresh Mathew, the editor of the Church-run Indian Currents magazine, who has been compiling the list of the country’s priests and nuns who have died in harness in the pandemic.

According to the Vatican’s report, 205 priests and 210 nuns have died of Covid-19, as of 29th May 2021. It also said that the number could be higher as some casualties are not reported.The Vatican’s report also listed three bishops: retired Archbishop Antony Anandarayar of Pondicherry-Cuddalore and Bishop Basil Bhuriya of Jhabua died on May 3 and 5 respectively.  Retired Bishop Joseph Pastor Neelankavil of Sagar of the Syro-Malabar rite, died on February 17, died in 2021. The death toll involves 98 dioceses and 106 religious congregations. Despite the risk of infection, dioceses and religious congregations have been reaching out to ease the suffering of the people hit by the pandemic.

The report citing Father Mathew added that casualties have “increased due to asymptotic conditions and late access to hospitals which resulted in late diagnosis”.

It is also important to note that the Telangana health director himself was admitted in the hospital for Covid treatment during the second wave.