PAPAL PANIC

Coronavirus fears for Pope Francis, 83, after four members of his Swiss Guard test positive for Covid-19

FOUR members of Pope Francis' Swiss Guard have tested positive for Covid-19, sparking fears for the pontiff.

The Holy See Press Office said four members of the Swiss Guard have Covid-19 symptoms and tested positive for the virus.

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Pope Francis, 83, is at high risk from Covid-19 due to his age. The Vatican has said he is always being monitored for coronavirus.

The guards are now in isolation as they recover from the virus.

The four are believed to be the first in the Swiss Guard to test positive for Covid.

Due to the positive cases, all guards will reportedly now have to wear masks in their barracks, while holidays have been suspended.

Nearly all of the Swiss Guard are single men who live in a barracks just inside the Vatican gates.

Commanders and married guards live in separate apartments. All members have Swiss nationality.

The Vatican said all four who tested positive had mild symptoms.

Last week, the Vatican introduced new coronavirus rules which meant people had to wear masks, even outdoors, and practice social distancing.

Excluding the four guards, only three people living in Vatican City have Covid-19.

In Italy, which surrounds Vatican City, there have been more than 355,000 cases of Covid-19 with 36,166 deaths.

There were fears for the Pope's health in March after a member of his staff tested positive.

During an Ash Wednesday service in St Peter's Basilica, the Pope was seen blowing his nose, coughing, and rubbing his eyes.

Footage showed him coughing and sneezing while delivering a blessing in St Peter's Square at the Vatican after four days out of the public eye.

He was also forced to call off a week-long Lent retreat.

Referring to the Lent retreat during the address, he said at the time: “Unfortunately a cold will force me not take part this year.

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