Juventus forward and Argentina star footballer Paulo Dybala is in voluntary isolation after the Italian club confirmed on Thursday that defender Daniele Rugani tested positive for covid-19. Rugani is the first Serie A footballer to have contracted the coronavirus.
Dybala, along with 120 others, including players and staff members, will be observing “a period of voluntary home isolation”. A statement from the club said that it is currently “activating all isolation procedures required by law”.
The club has not confirmed if Dybala has contracted the virus.
On Thursday, Juventus confirmed that 25-year-old Rugani had tested positive for covid-19 and is currently asymptomatic.
Rugani, who also plays for the Italian national team, tweeted that that he wanted to reassure everyone worried about him that he is fine. He further urged people to follow protective measures and procedures.
All sporting events in Italy have been called off over the coronavirus outbreak. Other countries have followed suit and suspended events and mass gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday declared the coronavirus a pandemic―an epidemic on a far greater geographic scale that affects a much large number of people.
The coronavirus has killed over 3,000 people globally, with Italy recording the second most deaths after China. Over 800 people in Italy have died from covid-19.
