A 98-year-old Catholic bishop in China has beaten coronavirus.
According to the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), Msgr Joseph Zhu Baoyu, Bishop of Nanyang in southwest China was diagnosed with COVID-19 on 3rd February.
Nine days later he tested negative for the illness, and by 14th February his lungs were no longer infected.
The World Health Organisation states that older people with pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes appear to be more vulnerable to coronavirus.
Fr Sergio Ticozzi from PIME said Bishop Joseph had other diseases such as arrhythmia and pleural effusions (sometimes referred to as "water on the lungs").
He was treated with a thoracic drainage catheter which is used to remove air, fluid or pus.
Fr Sergio told AsiaNews: "The news of Mgr Giuseppe Zhu Baoyu's recovery from the coronavirus was a source of joy to me."
Bishop Joseph was ordained in 1957. He led an underground church and was long imprisoned and in re-education camps.
China, has reported 78,064 cases of COVID-19 and 2,715 deaths.
