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Watford's Adrian Mariappa reveals shock at COVID-19 diagnosis

Watford defender Adrian Mariappa has revealed that he is one of the individuals at the club to te...



Watford's Adrian Mariappa reve...
Soccer

Watford's Adrian Mariappa reveals shock at COVID-19 diagnosis

Watford defender Adrian Mariappa has revealed that he is one of the individuals at the club to test positive for coronavirus. 

In all, Watford returned three of the six positive results among the 748 initial tests conducted on Premier League players and staff.

Two members of Watford's coaching staff have been confirmed among the positive results, as has Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.

33-year old Mariappa confirmed his diagnosis in an interview with The Telegraph.

"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," he told the paper.

"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."

The former Reading and Crystal Palace centre-half added, "My lifestyle is very quiet, certainly no parties or going out or anything, 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."

Just 0.8% of all those tested in the Premier League on Sunday and Monday returned positive results.

But Watford captain Troy Deeney says he won't return to training under phase one of Project Restart.

"My son is five months and he's had breathing difficulties," Deeney told boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

"I don't want to come home and put him in more danger. You've got to drive in in your own kit, you can't have showers, then drive back in the same dirty kit you've got.

"If I'm putting my clothing in with my son's or my missus' it's more likely to be in the house."

Deeney's reluctance to return to training along with the three positive tests has dialled up the reluctance of others at Watford to resume training.

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Adrian Mariappa Burnley Coronavirus Covid-19 Project Restart Watford