Ten sports personalities infected by coronavirus

The global spread of the coronavirus has disrupted sporting activities around the world as countries take measures to contain it. Until early last week, there were no major cases of athletes or managers infected by the virus but by the end of the week, the number had swelled

1. Daniele Rugani 

Juventus have confirmed that defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus.

The Serie A club announced it would implement necessary isolation procedures. Individuals who have come into contact with the 25-year-old will also be checked, according to the Italian giants.

Rugani becomes the first star from the Italian top flight to have contracted the virus.

Juventus added that Rugani, who was an unused substitute during the 2-0 victory against Inter Milan last weekend, is ‘currently asymptomatic’. He took to social media following the news to reassure his followers that he was ‘fine’.

2. Fiorentina players 

Two more players at Fiorentina, Argentine international defender German Pezzella and on-loan forward Patrick Cutrone, have tested positive for the coronavirus, the club said on Saturday, bringing the total number infected Serie A players to nine.

The Florence-based club said that Pezzella, 28, and Cutrone, 22, were both tested after showing “some symptoms” of the disease along with physiotherapist Stefano Dainelli, who also tested positive. Their team-mate Dusan Vlahovic tested positive on Friday.

3. Timo Hubers

A German second division footballer tested positive for the coronavirus.

Hannover 96 said its defender Timo Hubers, 23, is in quarantine at home while the rest of the playing staff will be tested.

Gerhard Zuber, sporting director of Hannover said: “Timo behaved in an exemplary manner.”

According to the club’s website, it is assumed that Hubers picked up coronavirus at an event last Saturday evening.”

They claim that the player had no contact with his team-mates since picking up the illness.

4. Rudy Gobert 

The NBA has suspended its season after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s game against the Utah Jazz was postponed when a player tested positive for coronavirus.

The league confirmed in a statement that ‘the test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off’ and ‘the affected player was not in the arena’.

“The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” a statement read.

Jazz center Rudy Gobert recently got sick after touching the microphones and recorders of reporters, it was recently reported.

5. Callum Hudson-Odoi

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi was the first EPL player to test positive for coronavirus. Hudson-Odoi displayed cold symptoms last Monday and stayed away from the club since then.

His test result was returned on Thursday night making him the first Premier League player to contract the virus. He assured fans on Friday that he was on the mend, posting a video message on social media.

6. Evangelos Marinakis

The owner of Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos tested positive for coronavirus, prompting a scramble to contain the possible spread of infection among fans and players.

Evangelos Marinakis was present at the City Ground last Friday night for Forest’s 3-0 defeat to Millwall.

He also met the Forest squad and posed for photos with several fans. On 27 February he was at the Emirates Stadium as Olympiakos knocked Arsenal out of the Europa League. Marinakis confirmed he had the virus in a post on Instagram.

7. Manolo Gabbiadini

Sampdoria striker Manolo Gabbiadini became the second Serie A player to test positive for coronavirus. Juventus defender Daniele Rugani was the first Serie A player to contract the pandemic but now, 28-year-old Gabbiadini, who used to play for Southampton in the English Premier League, has contracted COVID-19 and is in isolation, all Serie A matches have been suspended until at least April 3.

8. Miket Arteta 

The biggest name to contract the virus in the English Premier League, the confirmation that the Arsenal coach had contracted the COVI-19 sparked the acceleration from the Premier League and EFL to suspend all football matches until April 4 at least.

Arteta’s wife, Lorena Bernal opened up about how her and her family are doing after he was tested positive for Coronavirus.

“My husband (Arteta) is feeling fine, he is well. It’s true that he had symptoms of the virus but the symptoms would have never stopped him from going to work in a normal situation,” she said.

9. McLaren team member

Last weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix was called off over coronavirus concerns. This was after news that a McLaren team member tested positive for the virus.

McLaren said the infected team member was now self-isolating in Australia. The coronavirus outbreak, now declared a pandemic, has led to widespread disruption of sporting fixtures.

10. Donovan Mitchell

A second Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus, the team confirmed on Thursday. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell was the player.

All-Star center Rudy Gobert tested positive on Wednesday, and his diagnosis led to the NBA opting to suspend its season indefinitely.