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Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has announced that three Leicester City players are in self-isolation with suspected coronavirus symptoms.
Brendan Rodgers: "We've had a few players that have shown symptoms and signs (of coronavirus). We’ve followed procedures and (as a precaution) they have been kept away from the squad." pic.twitter.com/KZDXeRgzhT
— Leicester City (@LCFC) March 12, 2020
It is not confirmed whether or not the players have contracted the virus. However, the BBC are reporting the players will not be tested as a matter of course.
On the #LCFC players self isolating because of Coronavirus. It’s my understanding that the players are first team players and haven’t reached a threshold where they require testing.
— Ian Stringer (@StringerSport) March 12, 2020
Good diligent approach from the club.
They will asses them again later in the week.
Rodgers’ announcement isn’t the only pandemic-related news to hit the Premier League on Thursday. According to the Athletic, Chelsea’s players were ordered not to attend training after “someone close to the squad” complained of symptoms. Their training base at Cobham has been emptied and is being “thoroughly cleaned.”
Additionally, the Telegraph have reported that players at “a Premier League club” — as yet unnamed — are being tested after three displayed symptoms. It is not clear if this story was referring to Leicester or to another team.
While other nations have suspended their football competitions, the Premier League has so far declined to suspend fixtures or impose empty stadiums; so far just one game, Arsenal’s visit to Manchester City, has been postponed. That decision came after it was revealed that a number of Arsenal’s players had contact with Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who has contracted the virus.
As things stand, the full programme of games is due to be played this weekend, with fans admitted. But given that the virus is now potentially present within the playing squads, it is hard to see how the games can go ahead, even without fans present.