In one of the first reports of a professional sportsman contacting the latest Coronavirus, COVID-19, German defender Timo Hubers has tested positive.
Hubers, 23, plays for Hanover in the German Bundesliga 2 and is believed to have contacted COVID-19 in Hildesheim last Saturday.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Hannover said Hubers immediately self-isolated after going to the doctor for tests once he had learned he had been in contact with a person carrying the virus.
The club believes it is unlikely Hubers could have passed the infection on to any other players in their team. He has not been in contact with any of them since last Saturday.
Nevertheless, as a precaution, all Hannover players and staff are to be tested and quarantined if necessary.
Hubers behaved in an “absolutely exemplary” fashion”
The club’s Sporting director Gerhard Zuber said Hubers had behaved in “absolutely exemplary” fashion.
“He has himself shown no symptoms up to now,” said Zuber. “When he found out that a person who had been with him had tested positive, he reported directly to the doctor and temporarily went into quarantine at home.”
Hubers will not be considered for Sunday’s league match with Dynamo Dresden, but the rest of the team is preparing for the game as normal.
However, all media and PR activity has been cancelled “for the time being” and the game is one of several in Germany this week that will be held behind closed doors without spectators.
Hannover currently sits in ninth place in Germany’s second tier league after 25 matches this season.