Strict measures will be enforced on players who test positive for coronavirus if the season is resumed in May.
Professional football has not been played in Italy since March 9 due to the country going on a nationwide lockdown, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Those measures were eased earlier this week so small businesses such as bookshops and stationery stores could reopen.
Meanwhile, sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora is confident clubs can return to training on May 4, when Italy is expected to commence Phase Two of its coronavirus response.
Strict measures will be enforced on players who test positive for coronavirus if the season is resumed in May.
Professional football has not been played in Italy since March 9 due to the country going on a nationwide lockdown, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Those measures were eased earlier this week so small businesses such as bookshops and stationery stores could reopen.
Meanwhile, sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora is confident clubs can return to training on May 4, when Italy is expected to commence Phase Two of its coronavirus response.
With that in mind, Corriere dello Sport has compiled a list of procedures in the event players test positive for COVID-19 after football resumes.
For the first week, all players will go on an ‘armoured’ retreat. They have to observe social distancing at lunch and dinner, with no waiters or buffet meals.
They will also have to sleep in single rooms and take showers in their rooms, as opposed to in the changing rooms.
Before that happens, their clubs will call them 78-92 hours before the first training session at staggered times, so as to avoid gatherings.
Players will be placed into three groups for training. The first group is for the positives who had difficulty breathing. They will be required to take further tests on their heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.
The second group is for positives who showed mild symptoms, while the third is for those who tested negative.
For the first week, there will be no training matches and the obligation to sit separately. The second will see those without coronavirus resume full training.
Once that is fulfilled, there should be four weeks of normal training although, for the first two, contact with those outside of the squad will be prohibited. Tests will also be repeated for safety.
Any players who test positive for COVID-19 will be isolated and their teammates will need to retake swabs, if it means not halting the season again.
Regional health professionals will be sent to the clubs’ training complexes or hotels to perform the tests.