Pope Francis Tell Priests To Visit Coronavirus Cases, Italy Now On Lock Down As Case Increases

Pope Francis has urged Catholic priests on March 10 to “have the courage” to go out and help those sickened by the novel coronavirus, hours after Italy was placed on a nationwide lockdown.

The pontiff during a mass in Vatican City said;

Let us pray to the Lord also for our priests, that they may have the courage to go out and visit the sick… and to accompany the medical staff and volunteers in the work they do.

St Peter’s Square in the Vatican in the centre of the Italian capital Rome was almost empty on March 10 with only a few dozen people walking around, most of them without masks.

The Italian government has asked for people not to travel if they can avoid it and to avoid contact with the sick.

Officials passed a decree on March 9, extending nationwide restrictive measures that was put in place at during the weekend at the hardest-hit northern regions.

The restrictions including checkpoints on roads and in railway stations are set to remain until April 3.

Italy is the epicentre of the European virus outbreak with more than 9,000 cases and 463 deaths so far.

Globally, more than 110,000 cases have been recorded in over 100 countries, although health experts are hopeful that the virus has peaked in China, where it originated late last year.