Nigerian footballer tests positive to Coronavirus in Italy

Nigerian footballer tests positive in Italy, as spread risk upgraded to highest level A Nigerian footballer based in Italy, Paul Akpan Udoh, is reported to have tested positive for coronavirus.

Udon, a 22-year-old who plays for Pianese in the Italian Serie C, was said to be diagnosed on Thursday and has been quarantined. He is believed to be the first footballer in Europe to be infected with the coronavirus.

A statement from the Tuscany region said the 22-year-old man had symptoms in a hotel in Alessandria, where he was training with the team ahead of Sunday’s game.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to “very high” – its top level of risk assessment.

But the UN body said there was still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission were broken.

WHO’s head, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also said fear and misinformation were the biggest challenges to overcome. More than 50 countries have now reported cases of coronavirus.