Bishops from France offered a private Mass in the crypt chapel of St. Peter's Basilica at the tomb of St. Peter March 9, and sat one meter apart during their ad limina meeting with Pope Francis later that day.
The nationwide quarantine in Italy restricts movement around the country and between regions. Restaurants and bars must close at 6pm and gathering in groups is forbidden.
People are encouraged to stay home, but may move around the city for work, to go to the grocery store or pharmacy, or for medical care. In public, people are asked to keep one meter of distance from each other.
Several Vatican officials told CNA that work inside Vatican offices continues despite coronavirus.
Employees and officials have been asked to remain one meter away from each other at all times, to restrict visits from guests, and to not gather around the coffee machine, one official said. He also said essential offices are fully staffed and open for the time being.
An official from another office said he "would be very surprised" if he were asked to work from home, as this is never done. He said for him, work "continues as normal," but there is some uncertainty for the future.
The Holy See press office is open its regular hours with some employees working remotely. The communications office, where Vatican Media employees work, is working out a system for coverage with fewer employees in the office, but remains open.
The story was updated at 7:15 am DST with the statement from the Holy See Press Office.
Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency's senior Rome correspondent. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.
Courtney Mares is a Rome Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. A graduate of Harvard University, she has reported from news bureaus on three continents and was awarded the Gardner Fellowship for her work with North Korean refugees.