Pope Francis has been given a swab test of the coronavirus disease after illness forced him to cancel official duties for two consecutive days.
Amidst concerns about the health of the head of the catholic church, the result of his coronavirus test has come back negative according to Italian newspaper sources.
There had been concerns about the 83-year-old pontiff’s health as regards the dreaded coronavirus disease as it is not clear what his symptoms are, but he was seen blowing his nose and covering his mouth as he coughed during an Ash Wednesday service in St Peter’s.
He then cancelled all public engagements for the next four days while he recovered, before subsequently appearing at the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Sunday to address thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square for a noon blessing.
However, during the blessing, he announced he would not be participating in a yearly spiritual retreat for Lent that was due to start this week. Instead, he said he would be following it from his residence in a Vatican guest house.
This further heightened concerns about the Pope’s health condition.
The Pope’s illness comes amid an outbreak of coronavirus which has so far infected 650 people, killed 52 others in Italy and caused several forms of disruption across the country.
Fears were rising that the Pope could have contacted the illness unknowingly during one of his numerous greetings, kissing and shaking of hands in a crowd of well-wishers, majorly those of the catholic belief.
Such fears have now been allayed after doctors confirmed that his coronavirus test result came back negative.
