Watford defender Adrian Mariappa shocked after positive Covid-19 test

Watford’s Adrian Mariappa has revealed that he is one of the Premier League players infected with Covid-19.

Mariappa, 33, told Telegraph Sport on Wednesday he had not displayed any symptoms prior to being informed of his positive result on Tuesday.

He stressed that he had followed all government set guidelines to the letter and the positive coronavirus test came as a shocker.

The Watford centre back will now self-isolate for seven days before another test next week.

"Ever since I got my positive result back on Tuesday, I’ve been scratching my head to try to work out how I might have got coronavirus.

"It was a big surprise because I haven’t really left the house, apart from some exercise and the odd walk with the kids. I’ve mainly just been homeschooling and keeping fit.

"My lifestyle is very quiet, so I really don’t know how I got it. Like most people, we’ve been having more deliveries of food and things, so maybe that’s one way, and my partner has been to the supermarket a few times,” Mariappa told the Telegraph.

The defender, who lives with his partner and three of his four children, has spent lockdown dividing his time between following his Watford fitness programme and homeschooling.

"I’ve felt as fit as ever, probably fitter because I’ve been working really hard. I’ve been following my training programme and I’ve not felt out of breath or ill, or anything," said Mariappa.

The Premier League revealed on Tuesday that six people from three different clubs had tested positive for coronavirus out of a sample of 748 and Watford had confirmed three positive cases.

As per United Kingdom government guidelines published on May 11, 2020, English football was planned to restart behind closed doors from June 1.

According to English media, the UK government has set out a roadmap to exit the coronavirus lockdown situation, whose step two includes “permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed doors for broadcast while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact…" as per AFP.

However, the sporting events will only be allowed to go on should the COVID-19 situation between now and June 1st improve.

The boys are back ????‍?? pic.twitter.com/fLe1VgnBtm — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) May 20, 2020