"This morning all outpatient services of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the State of the Vatican City have been suspended to sanitize the rooms after a patient yesterday tested positive for Codiv-19,"  Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni was quoted as saying by ANSA news agency.

He said the emergency room remained open.

"The Directorate of Health and Hygiene is informing the appropriate Italian authorities and meanwhile the planned health protocols have been activated", the spokesman told the news agency.

The patient has been taken from the Vatican to a hospital in Rome, sources told ANSA.