The Generalate of the Brothers of Charity in Rome has been put under lockdown measures since 24 August following the coronavirus pandemic. On that day, the Superior General, Brother René Stockman, who was preparing to travel to Rwanda, tested positive for COVID-19 and was rushed to Gemelli Hospital three days later with severe symptoms. In the meantime, he has returned home and is recovering further in isolation on the premises.
Other brothers, including the attending members of the General Council, also tested positive, fortunately without symptoms, and were also required to self-isolate.
To this day, several brothers are still in isolation and the whole house is placed under quarantine.
This means that even the Belgian students for the priesthood at the Belgian Pontifical College, which is housed in the Generalate buildings, cannot travel to Rome to continue their studies. They have to wait until quarantine in the house is lifted.
In Italy, too, the rise of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is clearly visible, and several Roman universities are once again starting to teach remotely.
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