Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln has announced that three individuals have been tested positive for COVID-19. The club didn’t publish the names of the infected individuals, but BILD newspaper reports that two players and a physiotherapist have been put into quarantine.

1. FC Köln statement

1. FC Köln had the entire team and coaching staff, along with the backroom staff, tested on Thursday for COVID-19. Three people tested positive, all are symptom free. After an assessment of the cases by the responsible health authorities, the three people who tested positive will go into a 14-day quarantine at home. 1. FC Köln will not confirm any names out of respect for the privacy of those affected.

1. FC Köln’s training can continue as planned, according to the hygiene and infection control measures that have been in place since April 6th in group training. The prerequisite for this is that the relevant group of people are tested further, as stated for in the medical concept of the “Taskforce Sports Medicine/Special Game Operation” from the DFL.

This procedure was also discussed on Friday with the chair of the Taskforce, Prof. Dr. med. Tim Meyer, medical director of the Institute for Sports and Preventive Medicine at Saarland University and Prof. Dr. med. Barbara Gärtner, specialist in microbiology and infection epidemiology.

Prof. Dr. med. Tim Meyer said: “We now see in everyday life that our concept recognises and reduces risks at an early stage. We will always be in close contact with the responsible health authorities and medical experts. We are convinced that with our concept, we can enable players to practice their profession with the best possible protection against infection.”

FC managing director Horst Heldt: “The health and private sphere of players and staff have priority above all else. The previous measures, as well as the strategy of regular tests, have proven themselves so that we can now react with individual solutions.”