Saudi Arabia recorded its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus today, and the virus has infected hundreds of people in several Middle Eastern countries including the UAE, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, where there are almost a thousand confirmed cases and 54 deaths.
Lol, he's smarter than the pope," tweeted Kelly Campagna in response to the video, which has been viewed thousands of times.
She was referring to rumours Pope Francis contracted the coronavirus while supporting victims of the disease and their relatives recently.
On Sunday the 83-year-old pontiff said he would not be taking part in a planned six-day spiritual retreat south of Rome after coming down with a "cold".
He suffered two coughing spells that forced him to turn away from the crowd and cover his mouth with his fist on a windy and cloudy day on Saint Peter's Square.
"Unfortunately, a cold forced me not to take part this year," he said after reciting the traditional Angelus Prayer and addressing the unfolding migrant crisis on Turkey's border with Greece.
The annual retreat will still start Sunday but only include members of the Roman Curia administration team of the Holy See.
Italy is battling Europe's worst outbreak of the novel coronavirus that has spread from China to every continent except for Antarctica.
