The first case of the deadly coronavirus has been reported in the Vatican City just days after the Pope tested negative for the bug.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed the case involves a patient in its health services which tested positive on Thursday.
He did not reveal whether the patient is an employee at the Vatican, but said services in Vatican clinics were suspended to deep clean the areas.
It means more than 3,800 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Italy - with 148 deaths making it the worst-hit European country,
Most Vatican employees who use its health services live in Italy on the other side of the border with the 108-acre city state.
The confirmed case comes days after Pope Francis was tested for the virus after suffering from a cold.
The 83-year-old Pontiff, who had part of one lung removed because of an illness decades ago, was seen coughing and sneezing during his first public appearance in four days on Sunday.
Speaking to thousands of people in St Peter's Square, the Pope announced his cold will force him to skip a week-long Lenten spiritual retreat with senior Vatican officials that had been due to start later in the day.
He was seen blowing his nose and coughing during the service and his voice sounded hoarse.
The Vatican had previously said only that he was suffering from a "slight indisposition".
His spokesman Matteo Bruni dismissed speculation that Francis was anything more than slightly unwell.
There is no evidence that would lead to diagnosing anything but a mild indisposition," he said.
