Coronavirus cases rise to 2 in German football

ANKARA

German football club Hannover 96 confirmed Thursday that defender Jannes Horn tested positive for the coronavirus, after another player was confirmed with the virus the previous day.

The second division club said precaution was taken for the entire team as well as for coaches and staff.

"With Jannes Horn, another player has tested positive for the virus. All other test results were negative," the club said on its website.

The team announced Wednesday that Timo Hubers tested positive for the coronavirus.

Hannover 96 said that Hubers and Horn are most likely two separate, independent cases and both players have had no symptoms.

Some football fixtures have been affected by the virus outbreak in Germany, where there are more than 1,200 confirmed cases.

Several Bundesliga matches this weekend will be played absent of fans, including Eintracht Frankfurt against Borussia Monchengladbach; Union Berlin verses Bayern Munich; Hoffenheim matchup with Hertha Berlin and Borussia Dortmund match against Schalke.

Bayern Munich’s Champions League fixture against Chelsea will also be played in an empty stadium March 18.

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.

The virus originated in Wuhan, China, but has spread to more than 100 countries, and the global death rate has exceed 4,600, with more than 124,000 confirmed cases.