Vatican City reports its first case of coronavirus, days after Pope tested negative
- Patient in Vatican City, Italy tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on Thursday
- Outpatient services in clinics will be suspended while areas are deep cleaned
- The confirmation comes days after Pope Francis tested negative for the virus
The Vatican has reported its first case of coronavirus, days after Pope Francis tested negative for the virus.
A patient in the city state – which has some 1,000 residents – tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed.
Outpatient services in Vatican clinics will be suspended while the areas are deep cleaned but emergency services will continue, he added.
The Vatican has informed Italian health authorities about the case.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed a patient in its health services had tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday (Pictured: St. Peter’s Square on Thursday)
The confirmation of the Vatican’s first coronavirus case comes days after Pope Francis tested negative for the virus.
The pontiff, 83, had been forced to cancel a series of engagements last week due to illness.
He was given a ‘routine’ test after falling ill on Ash Wednesday with symptoms of a cold including a cough, fever, chills and sore throat.
He was given a swab test as a precaution but the results have come back negative, according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.