Vatican City, Mar 6, 2020 / 04:30 am
Vatican City has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, a Vatican spokesman said Friday.
All outpatient services in Vatican City State's Health and Hygiene Department were suspended March 6 to allow for the sanitation of Vatican facilities after one patient tested positive the previous day.
"The Health and Hygiene Department is taking steps to inform the competent Italian authorities and in the meantime the planned health protocols have been launched," Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni told journalists March 6.
The Vatican spokesman did not elaborate what these additional protocols will be. Many upcoming Vatican conferences and events have already been postponed until the fall to help combat the virus' spread.