Italian football champions Juventus announced last night that one of their players Daniele Rugani has tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).
According to the team’s announcement on their website and social media channels:
The footballer, Daniele Rugani has tested positive for Coronavirus-COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic.
Juventus Football Club is currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including those who have had contact with him.
When Juventus played its title rival, Inter Milan, behind closed doors on Sunday, Rugani was on the bench and his diagnosis means he, his teammates, his coaches and assorted staff members must be quarantined for 14 days. That will most likely make it impossible for the 123-year old team to play its Champions League match against the French club Lyon on Tuesday, and the news could lead to a quarantine for Inter’s players and coaches as well.
While Juventus was to be allowed to play its Champions League match without spectators, Italy has banned all domestic sports events until April 3, and the entire country is on a broad lockdown — with travel between regions restricted, and commerce and daily life disrupted. Italy is among the countries worst hit by the coronavirus, with over 12,000 confirmed cases and over 800 deaths.
