Arteta, Hudson-Odoi and 10 other sportspersons who contracted covid-19
As the world battles to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, death toll from the virus hits 6,500 across the world from almost 170,000 cases on Monday, Reuters reports.
Sports, academic, religious and social activities have been suspended in several countries following the spread of the virus.
Italy has become the worst hit after China. According to the country’s civil protection authority, 368 new deaths were reported on Sunday, this took the death toll to 1,809 while the number of positive cases rose to 24,747 from 21,157 on Saturday.
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Chelsea midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi are some of sportspersons who have been infected by the virus.
Here is a list of 12 athletes who have contracted COVID-19:
1. Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
The 37-year-old Arsenal Manager tested positive last Thursday. Arsenal released a statement on Thursday to make the announcement and said the club is in lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus. The entire Arsenal first team was also put in self-isolation and no other case has been reported since then.
Arteta’s wife Lorena Bernal, however, took to Instagram on Saturday to reveal that the Arsenal manager is ‘feeling fine’ as he recovers in self-isolation.
2. Callum Hudson-Odoi – Chelsea
The Chelsea winger is the first payer in the English Premier League to test positive for the virus. His news came a few hours after Arsenal announced that its manager contracted COVID-19.
Chelsea also announced that its full squad have gone into self-isolation after the winger tested positive on Thursday night.
3. Daniele Rugani
The Italian defender who plays for Italian Serie A club Juventus was the first player in Italy’s top soccer league to test positive for the virus.
4. Morten Thorsby – Sampdoria
The Italian Serie A side announced on Friday that the 23-year-old Norwegian midfielder is one of five Sampdoria players, along with team doctor Amedo Baldari, who have tested positive for COVID-19.
5. Omar Colley – Sampdoria
Although a club statement claimed Colley is one of five Sampdoria players who tested positive for COVID-19, the 27-year-old Gambian defender has said he does not have the virus. In an Instagram post, he said “I performed a blood and lung test on Thursday 12 March 2020 and the results were negative.”
6. German Pezzella, Fiorentina
The Fiorentina became one of three players from the Italian Seria A club to have contracted the virus. He was among a group tested after showing symptoms
7. Luca Kilian – Paderborn
The 20-year-old German defender was the first player in the Bundesliga to test positive for the coronavirus. A club statement on Friday revealed that Paderborn players and all members of the functional team will undergo a coronavirus test over the weekend.
8. Patrick Cutrone – Fiorentina
The Italian forward is one of three Fiorentina players to test positive for the virus.
9. Rudy Gobert – Utah Jazz
The French basketball star who plays for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S was diagnosed with the virus on March 9. He was the first NBA player to test positive for COVID-19. His positive test led the NBA to suspend its season.
10. Donovan Mitchell – Utah Jazz
Gobert’s teammate, Donovan was the second NBA player confirmed to have contracted the virus.
11. Trey Thompkins – Real Madrid
The Real Madrid basketball player tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday March 12, 2020. Thompkins’ positive result prompted Real Madrid’s basketball and football teams to enter quarantine because they share some facilities at the club’s training center.
12. Fernando Gaviria:
The Colombian cyclist confirmed on March 12 he contracted coronavirus while racing during an event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and was admitted to a hospital in the country.
