Report: Germany vs. Iceland game is on; Backgammon (?!) match reason for Jonas Hofmann and Marcel Halstenberg quarantine per the DFB; All other players have tested negative (Updated)

Per a report from Bild, Germany’s camp has experienced a positive test for COVID-19 ahead of tonight’s match between Die Mannschaft and Iceland.

There is no word on whether or not the game will be impacted as of yet. Below is the report from Bild:

Before the World Cup qualifying game against Iceland today (from 8.45 p.m. live on RTL and in the live ticker on BILD) there is be a positive case in the team.

According to Bild information, it should be Gladbach’s Jonas Hofmann (28). There is an alarm mood around the national team. The players are currently supposed to stay in their rooms. Discussions are currently ongoing on how to proceed. It is very likely that there will be more rapid tests on the players.

Sport1 added more context:

According to SPORT1 information, the 28-year-old offensive all-rounder from Borussia Mönchengladbach found out about his positive test result around 10.30 a.m. The last swipes of the players were taken on Wednesday evening.

All players are now in their rooms in the hotel in Düsseldorf and are waiting for the results of the second series of tests. The obligatory noon warm-up was canceled.

On Wednesday evening Hofmann had completed the final training with the other national players in Duisburg. Hofmann is symptom-free. The DFB has not yet been reached for a comment.

As this story develops, we will provide updates.

---

Update: 7:50AM

Per Sport1’s Florian Plettenberg, Jonas Hofmann is asymptomatic, but was fully involved in yesterday’s training session:

That’s bitter: Hofmann found out about the positive corona test about an hour ago. Has no symptoms. Warm-up cancelled. Yesterday he was fully involved in the final training session in Duisburg. @SPORT1

The primary issue now for Germany is testing the other players and assessing if the Iceland match can even happen now.

Just because Hofmann was fully-involved in training does not mean there will be an outbreak, but German officials will undoubtedly proceed with caution.

---

Update: 8:05AM EST

Per SID, the Germany vs. Iceland game will “definitely” take place:

The German national team’s World Cup qualifier against Iceland will take place in Duisburg as planned on Thursday evening (8.45 p.m. / RTL) despite a corona case in the DFB team. DFB spokesman Jens Grittner confirmed this to SID after consulting the Düsseldorf health department. “It will definitely be played,” said Grittner.

After corona case: World Cup qualifying game against Iceland takes place /#Fußball /

---

Update: 8:20AM EST

Another player has been placed in isolation due to “close contact” per Bild:

Two players have been quarantined. One is Hofmann. The other is Leipzig’s Marcel Halstenberg (29). He has NOT tested positive, but separated from the team because of contact with someone who tested positive. The Leipzig star has now even left the DFB hotel.

It is important to emphasize that Halstenberg, an RB Leipzig defender, has not tested positive at this stage and is just being considered as exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

---

Update: 8:30AM EST

The team’s English language Twitter account has released a statement on where things stand with the situation and what the next steps are:

---

Update: 9:10AM EST

DFB national team director Oliver Bierhoff has issued a statement addressing the team’s approach on moving forward with the match against Iceland:

---

Update: 9:30AM EST

Marcel Halstenberg’s backgammon game with Jonas Hofmann is the reason he is in isolation:

Update #DFB :#Halstenberg had to leave because he was with #Hofmann Played backgammon on Wednesday night. Contact person 1! The game lasted over 15 minutes. MH now has to be in quarantine for several days in Leipzig, although it tested negative.@berger_pj @SPORT1

---

Update: 10:20AM EST

The DFB has formally announced that Hofmann and Halstenberg have been quarantined, but that all others players have tested negative and are ready for game action against Iceland later today:

Hofmann, of course, was the player who tested positive for COVID-19. Halstenberg played a game of backgammon against Hofmann which lasted longer than 15 minutes — and subsequently earned the RB Leipzig defender the classification of “Category 1” contact per the DFB.