The Holy See made no comment
on Tuesday after Il Messaggero reported that Pope Francis had
undergone a test for the coronaviris as a precautionary measure.
The Rome-based daily said the the outcome of the swab was
negative.
The Argentine pontiff is currently suffering from a cold
which caused him not to travel to the town of Ariccia for the
Roman Curia's Lenten spiritual exercises.
On Monday Civil Protection Chief and Coronavirus Emergency
Commissioner Angelo Borrelli said that 1,835 people have become
ill with the virus in Italy, up by 258 with respect to Sunday.
This was a 16% rise with respect to the previous day, much
lower than the 50% increase registered on Sunday with respect to
Saturday.
Borrelli said another 149 people who have recovered from the
coronavirus and the 52 people infected with it have died.
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