ROME: An Italian policeman who worked as a security guard for Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte died on Saturday after contracting COVID-19, Anadolu Agency quoted the country's police as saying.

Giorgio Guastamacchia, 52, tested positive for the novel coronavirus late March. He had then been hospitalised in a Roman hospital and taken to an intensive care unit due to his serious condition.

The Italian government said at the time that he had not been in contact with Conte for at least two weeks.

The premier, however, was tested negative in a precautionary test.

— BERNAMA