Swiss Guards Test Positive for Coronavirus

Responding to journalists yesterday, Director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni confirmed that four members of the Swiss Guard had tested positive for coronavirus.

Bruni said they “have symptoms, are all in isolation, and the necessary checks are being carried out among those who may have been in direct contact with them.”

“In the meantime, according to instructions issued last week by the Governorate of the Vatican City State, all the guards, whether on duty or not, wear masks, both outdoors and indoors, and observe the prescribed health measures.”

Bruni added the four cases were in addition to “three other positive cases found in recent weeks among residents and citizens of the State, all with mild symptoms and for which all the necessary measures of isolation at home and verification of the persons involved have been observed.”

The positive cases prompted mandatory masks within the Vatican as of last week.

However, when Pope Francis met with the new recruits to the Swiss Guard last week, masks weren’t worn.

It’s unclear, at this point, whether or not Pope Francis was in close proximity to the four new Swiss Guards who tested positive.