All Catholic churches across Rome, Italy's capital, will be closed to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from spreading.

Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Roman archbishop of Rome, said the churches would reopen when the Italian government's ban on mass assembly ceased on April 3. He also said that Catholics do not need to attend Sunday Mass.

The statement added that the monasteries would remain open to "communities frequented as residents". "This is done for the common good," Cardinal De Donatis said.

The Vatican has taken steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Holy See's Press Office announced the closure of the museum system and the Saint Paul Cathedral with visitors, advising residents to avoid gathering, postponing weddings and funerals as the epidemic situation in Italy becomes more and more complicated.

Some churches in Rome had previously been open and asked believers to comply with government regulations as well as stand a meter away to ensure safety. It is not clear when the churches here will be closed in mass.

The Vatican detected the first nCoV infection on March 7 and immediately planned to protect Pope Francis from the disease. The Pope celebrated Mass daily via live streaming video from his residence at Casa Santa Marta. He had to cancel the first Lent holiday since taking office due to a cold but "had no symptoms related to other illnesses".

Covid-19 has appeared in more than 130 countries and territories, leaving more than 134,000 people sick and nearly 5,000 dead. Italy, the country surrounding the Vatican, is the second largest epidemic in the world, after mainland China, with more than 15,000 cases, of which more than 1,000 have died.