A man living in the same Vatican residence as Pope Francis has tested positive for Covid-19 and gone into isolation, the Vatican said.

The man, who was not identified and did not have symptoms of the illness, left the Santa Marta residence and went into isolation along with others with whom he had had direct contact, a statement said.

Pope Francis, who had part of one lung removed during an illness when he was a young man in his native Argentina, is tested regularly for Covid-19.

The Vatican, a tiny city-state surrounded by Rome, has been only lightly affected by the coronavirus, with about two dozen confirmed cases in total.