Portsmouth defender discovers he tested positive for coronavirus while eating in pub

“I was mortified," said Raggett, in quotes reported by The Sun.

"We all got tested on Tuesday at the training ground and I couldn’t believe I had come up positive because I haven’t had any symptoms whatsoever.

“My first concern was not to infect anyone I was with or any of the public in the vicinity because there were at least 25 people in there at the time. So I left straight away.

“I am seriously mortified by the thought of passing this on to anyone. I was sitting with just two friends and I didn’t really get into close contact with anyone else.

“But as a precaution, if anyone was in there that evening, they should self-isolate.

“If I had any idea I had the infection then of course I would never have gone in there in the first place.

“I didn’t watch or hear the Prime Minister’s briefing so I had no idea pubs had been told to close.

“I was getting ready for the weekend and then driving up. I only went there to eat with two friends. I was there for about an hour.”

Raggett had headed back to Kent planning to visit his parents for Mother's Day - and had to call on them to let them know if his diagnosis after he had been unable to contact them by phone.

He added: “I knocked on the front door then stood a few metres back and spoke to my dad and sister.

“I told them the news and obviously let them know I couldn’t stay with them because I had caught the infection.

“My other big concern was that my girlfriend was with her family so I needed to let her know because obviously she’s been with me while I’ve had the disease.

“I didn’t want to risk her potentially passing on the infection, either.”

Raggett and his girlfriend are now self-isolating, as are the friends the Portsmouth player went out with on Friday.

“It’s really scary stuff because I’m completely fine," said the defender. "We both are.

“I haven’t had a high temperature, I’ve not been coughing or sneezing, nothing. I’ve no flu-like symptoms at all. It’s really weird.

"But it illustrates how dangerous this disease is if people have it but don’t know because obviously that increases the chances of more people being infected.”