Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has made a plea for supporters to ‘take care of each other’ during the coronavirus pandemic and says Hudson-Odoi is doing well after testing positive.
The London side have been self-isolating since Friday after Hudson-Odoi became the first Premier League player to be diagnosed with Covid-19, with all football in England suspended after.
Chelsea’s training complex was shut down so it could be deep-cleaned, and all players and staff who came into contact with the winger were asked to self-isolate.
The club say Cobham has now reopened for those who are not self-isolating, while players have been sent indoor exercise bikes, nutrition plans and fitness programmes to maintain a good condition during the two weeks of self-isolation.
‘I’m happy to say that in Callum’s case, he has made great progress and almost feels his usual self, which is obviously the news we all want to hear,’ Lampard told the club’s official website.
‘I am of course aware that not everyone can or will recover from this virus, so I urge all of the football and sporting community to continue to act responsibly and look out for the health of others.
‘I want to make it clear that I am no medical expert when it comes to challenging times such as these but please do take the time to call older relatives and vulnerable people who might be alone, or offer to drop round shopping if they can’t get out. Let’s make sure we all take care of each other.
‘Social distancing can leave us feeling isolated, however we can continue to support each other even if that means doing it remotely.
‘Of course we still don’t know when competitive football will restart, but it isn’t worth worrying about that too much at the moment.
‘We all miss football, but right now it’s about acting responsibly and in the best interests of society. I am sure I wasn’t the only one who found myself in a strange place with no sport this weekend, but ultimately none of that matters when we consider the bigger picture.’
