The FIGC have confirmed that four members of the Italy staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
An announcement was made by the Federation after the 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Lithuania.
There had already been one member of staff who felt unwell after the 2-0 win in Bulgaria on Saturday and he returned home.
He tested positive for COVID-19 when he returned to Italy.
The FIGC have confirmed that four members of the Italy staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
An announcement was made by the Federation after the 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Lithuania.
There had already been one member of staff who felt unwell after the 2-0 win in Bulgaria on Saturday and he returned home.
He tested positive for COVID-19 when he returned to Italy.
Today, another three members of coach Roberto Mancini’s staff tested positive for COVID.
The results of these three tests were only announced after the final whistle of Italy’s 2022 World Cup qualifier in Vilnius.
A statement confirms the staff members have been 'isolated' from the rest of the group in Lithuania, but it's possible this was only after they spent all day together preparing this match.
The timing set out by the statement is a concern, because it notes all the COVID tests performed on Monday came back negative.
A staff member then had a sore throat on Tuesday and was sent back to Italy rather than travelling with the group to Lithuania.
On Wednesday evening, another three members of the staff who had been in close contact with him then tested positive too.
COVID is so difficult to trace and control because it has a far longer incubation period than most viruses, so it can take up to 14 days for it to fully develop within the body after an initial infection.
During that incubation period, it is possible that person will still be able to infect others, even if he himself is not testing positive.