Daniele Rugani, defender for Juventus Turin, tested positive for COVID-19, the virus causing a global pandemic, announced the Italian club on Wednesday, stating that the player is currently "asymptomatic".
"Juventus is currently implementing all the required isolation procedures, including identifying all people who have been in contact with him," wrote the club.
Italy, the European country most affected by the novel coronavirus, has decided to suspend the Italian championship until April 3, but Juventus has a return match for the Champions League round of 16 scheduled for next week, facing a 1-0 deficit against Lyon.
After China, Italy is the second most affected country in the world by the pandemic, with 827 deaths and 12,462 cases, according to a balance published on Wednesday night.
To stop the spread of the virus, the Italian government has decreed strict measures to confine the population, including restrictions on freedom of movement and a ban on gatherings for the 60 million Italians, in effect until April 3.
These measures were joined on Wednesday night by the closure of all stores in the country, except for those in the food and health sectors. AFP