Vatican City, Apr 3, 2020 / 08:00 am
The Holy See has extended its lockdown measures through April 13, the Monday of the Octave of Easter, in accordance with Italy's recently extended national lockdown, the Vatican announced Friday.
St. Peter's Basilica and square, the Vatican Museums, and several other public offices in the Vatican City State have been closed for more than three weeks. Originally scheduled to last through April 3, these measures have now been extended an additional nine days.
A total of seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed among Vatican employees to date.
According to a statement from Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See press office, departments of the Roman Curia and of the Vatican City State have continued working only "in essential, obligatory activities which cannot be deferred."