4 Swiss Guards test positive for Covid-19, Vatican says

The guards all have symptoms and contact tracing is being carried out among those who may have had direct contact with them, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a news release.

"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 said.

Three other residents and citizens of Vatican City recently tested positive for coronavirus. All have mild symptoms and are in isolation at home, the news release said.

Vatican City, which is a city-state located within Rome is the home of the Pope and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

Italy reported over 5,000 new coronavirus cases on October 9, which represents the highest daily rise in new Covid-19 cases since March 28. The Italian Council of Ministers passed a decree on Wednesday that requires the mandatory use of masks outdoors in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus across the country.