Soccer players Paolo Maldini, son Daniel and Marouane Fellaini test positive for COVID-19

The former AC Milan defender and his son Daniel, a current player for the same club, have both contracted the coronavirus, reports said.

Paolo Maldini, 51, a one-club player and current technical director at the club, is Italy's one of the best defenders.

"Paolo Maldini learned that he had contact with a person who tested positive and was suffering from symptoms of the virus. He was tested yesterday and found positive for the coronavirus," the club said in a statement.

"Paolo and Daniel are in good condition and, having already spent more than two weeks at home without outside contact, as required by medical and health protocols, will extend the quarantine for the time necessary for a complete clinical recovery."

Even as Italy ordered a complete lockdown, the number of deaths in the country from the spread of novel Coronavirus took a gigantic leap on Saturday to reach 4,825, a number which surpassed China's death toll from where the virus outbreak commenced.

Over 47,000 people have been affected in the country.

Besides, former Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has tested positive for coronavirus in China, the health department of Jihan province confirmed.

Fellaini moved to Shandong in 2019.

As of March 22, China's death toll stands at 3,261.

In the world scenario, the novel Coronavirus, which started in China's Wuhan, has infected over 3 lakhs people and claimed the lives of 13,000.

Besides Italy, Germany, Spain and the United States are continuing to record a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and fatalities.