Covid-19: 2 new cases in the Vatican, another 170 people tested
By Vatican News
There are two new positive cases of the Covid-19 virus in the Vatican. The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, confirmed this in a statement released on Saturday afternoon, referring to the results of analysis undertaken by the health department.
Bruni stated that in the past few days the Health and Hygiene Department had been conducting tests 鈥渋n compliance with the directives on the coronavirus emergency鈥�. Among the samples taken, one of them turned up positive for the Covid-19 virus. The person in question is an 鈥渙fficial of the Secretariat of State鈥� as well as a 鈥渞esident in Santa Marta鈥�. Since he had already manifested symptoms, he was already in isolation. 鈥淎t the moment, his health condition is not particularly critical鈥�, Bruni continued, 鈥渂ut as a precautionary measure, the person has been admitted to a Roman hospital and is under observation鈥�. The Vatican鈥檚 Health and Hygiene department is in close contact with the hospital.
As soon as this positive case of the virus came to light, Bruni said that 鈥渕easures were taken according to the health protocols provided, both with regard to the sanitation of the environment, the place of work and residence of the person concerned鈥�. Authorities have also tried to 鈥渞econstruct the contact he had with others in the days preceding the test results鈥�. These people have also been tested. The results of those tested have 鈥渃onfirmed the absence of other positive cases among those residing in the Casa Santa Marta鈥�, as well as among the official鈥檚 colleagues.
In addition, to be on the safe side, 鈥渁ppropriate sanitation measures were adopted鈥�. A further 170 Holy See employees and residents of the Casa Santa Marta underwent testing. 鈥淭he results on these latest tests were all negative鈥�, Bruni鈥檚 statement reads.
The new total of those affected by the Covid-19 virus among employees of the Holy See and citizens of Vatican City State now stands at 6. 鈥淚 can confirm鈥�, Bruni鈥檚 statement concludes, 鈥渢hat neither the Holy Father, nor his closest collaborators, are involved鈥�.
From the statement of the Director of the Press Office, it is clear why the Holy See waited until all the test results were in, prior to providing this information, so as to be able to state, on the basis of these results and the measures taken, that both the Casa Santa Marta residence and the offices of the Secretariat of State are safe.
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