| COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City | |
|---|---|
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Vatican City |
| Arrival date | 5 March 2020 (5 years, 8 months, 3 weeks and 1 day) |
| Date | As of 9 February 2021[update] |
| Confirmed cases | 26[1] |
| Active cases | 0 |
| Recovered | 29 |
Deaths | 0[1] |
| Government website | |
| Holy See Press Office | |
TheCOVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City was a part of theworldwide pandemic ofcoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused bysevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). TheHoly See reported the first case of infection inVatican City on 7 March 2020.[2] Unlike other jurisdictions that report cases within a given territory or cases of residents or citizens of a territory, the Holy See reports on cases "in Vatican City State and among the employees of the Holy See" regardless of location of testing, treatment, or residence.[3] There were 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the Vatican's residents and employees; there were no associated deaths.[4] The 29 cases included 10 employees, 1 new hire, and 1 resident of Vatican City.[note 1] All those infected tested negative by 6 June 2020.[5] An outbreak among members of the Holy See'sSwiss Guard was reported in mid-October, totaling 11 as of October 15.[6]
In late February 2020,Pope Francis became ill with symptoms of acold, but tested negative for COVID-19.[7] It was announced on January 14, 2021, that both he andPope Emeritus Benedict XVI had received the first dose of a vaccine.[8] They received their second dose in February.[9]
On 12 January 2020, theWorld Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that anovel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The illness had been reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[10][11]
Thecase fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower thanSARS of 2003,[12][13] but thetransmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[14][12]
Date | # of cases | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-05 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-03-24 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-03-28 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-04-02 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-04-08 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-04-20 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-04-28 | ||||
| 2020-04-29 | ||||
| 2020-04-30 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-05-06 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-06-06 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-10-12 | ||||
| ⋮ | ||||
| 2020-10-15 | ||||
| 2020-10-16 | ||||
| 2020-10-17 | ||||
| Sources: | ||||
On 5 March 2020, theCOVID-19 pandemic reached Vatican City with the diagnosis of "an external individual who had attended the outpatient clinics" for a pre-employment[note 2] medical exam.[15][17] The patient was later identified as a priest who had arrived from one of Italy's "red zones",[18] that is, the municipalities under the strictest quarantine regimen.[19] Five people who were in contact with the patient were quarantined as a precaution.[15]
On 8 March, theAngelus was offered vialivestreaming from the Pope's private library.[20] TheVatican Museums were closed from 8 March to 3 April.[21]
On 10 March, a day after Italy ordered restrictions on travel, the Holy See, "in coordination with measures introduced by Italian authorities", closedSaint Peter's Square andSt. Peter's Basilica to tourists from 10 March to 3 April.[22]
On 11 March, the Pope offered a virtual general audience for the first time.[23]
On 16 March, Francis left Vatican City to visit two churches in Rome. At theBasilica of St. Mary Major, he prayed before the Byzantine icon known asSalus Populi Romani, whichPope Gregory I carried in procession in 593 praying for an end to thePlague of Justinian. He then walked a half mile toSan Marcello al Corso to pray before a crucifix regarded by Catholics as miraculous. It was carried in procession during theplague of 1522.[24]
On 23 March, the Pope's visit toMalta scheduled for 31 May was canceled.[25]
On 24 March, the Holy See confirmed it knew of 4 cases, adding to that announced earlier 3 employees: 2 who work for the Vatican Museums and 1 who works in the shipping office.[18]
On 25 March, the Holy See newspaperL'Osservatore Romano suspended the production of its printed edition because Italy's restrictions made printing and distribution impossible. It continues to publish online.[26]
On 27 March, Pope Francis delivered a specialUrbi et Orbi blessing in an empty Saint Peter's Square praying for the end of coronavirus pandemic before the San Marcello al Corso's miraculous crucifix which was brought there from its usual location two days earlier.[27][28]
On 28 March, the Holy See confirmed 2 more cases, bringing the total to 6 cases. One was an official of theSecretariat of State who lives atDomus Sanctae Marthae, the Pope's residence. He was the first patient identified as a Vatican resident. The second new case was a Vatican employee who works with the resident in question. Some 170 other residents and close contacts were tested and their results were negative.[29]
On 2 April, the Holy See confirmed its seventh case, an employee who had been self-isolating since mid-March.[30]
On 5 April, the Palm Sunday Mass was celebrated inside St. Peter's before a small congregation instead of the thousands that normally fill the square outside.[31] The Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning that the clergy of Rome normally attend was postponed.[32][note 3] The other liturgies of Holy Week were moved and held, as announced on 27 March, "without the participation of the people".[34] Holy Thursday Mass, which the Pope has for several years celebrated outside the Vatican with refugees or prisoners, was held in St. Peter's; thewashing of feet was omitted.[32] About two dozen people attended the main Good Friday service; only the Pope kissed the crucifix.[35] The Good FridayWay of the Cross, held since 1964 at theColosseum, was held in St. Peter's Square; representatives of the Holy See health services were among the few participants.[36]
On 8 April, the Holy See announced that another of its employees had been diagnosed with the virus after leaving Rome to assist sick relatives. It reported the status of its 8 cases as: 2 recovered; 1 discharged and recovering at home; 2 in hospital; 3 asymptomatic and self-isolating.[37]
On 20 April, the Holy See reported a ninth person tested positive and was hospitalized for observation. Apparently another employee, he had only been at work once in the previous two weeks and no cases had been identified among his contacts that day.[3]
On 28 April, the Holy See reported a tenth person tested positive, an employee who had shown symptoms in March and was in confinementremote working. His colleagues were checked and tested negative.[38]
On 30 April, the Holy See reported an eleventh person tested positive, an employee who had symptoms during the first half of March and isolated.[39]
On 2 May, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity announced a day for fasting, prayers, and supplications for the good of all humanity on Thursday 14 May, and invites all religious leaders and peoples around the world to participate.[40]
On 6 May, the Holy See reported that a 12th person tested positive, an employee who had beenremote working since the beginning of March.[4]
In September, Filipino CardinalLuis Antonio Tagle tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in the Philippines from the Vatican. He became the first head of a Vatican dicastery confirmed to have contracted the disease.[41] His case is not counted in the Vatican's COVID-19 tally.
In October, 4Swiss guards tested positive for COVID-19, in addition to 3 other cases in Vatican City.[42] Later in the month, 7 more Swiss guards tested positive for COVID-19.[6]
On 9 January, the Vatican's newspaperL'Osservatore Romano announced that Pope Francis' personal doctor,Fabrizio Soccorsi, died of pneumonia and because of COVID-19.[43]
On 14 January, it was confirmed that both Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis had received their first doses of theCOVID-19 vaccine, with their followup doses expected in three weeks.[44] They received their second dose in February.[9]
Italy's lockdown measures were mirrored in Vatican City, including the closing of tourist attractions. To avoid public gatherings and transmission of the virus, Pope Francis moved his regular public appearances to the Internet and television.[45]
In April 2020, Pope Francis told an interviewer that the residents of Domus Sanctae Marthae were working from their rooms and that meals were now served in two shifts to allow for social distancing.[46]
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The Vatican said on Friday that a patient in its health services had tested positive for coronavirus.
Media related toCOVID-19 pandemic in the Vatican City at Wikimedia Commons