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Chelsea boss Frank Lampard urges people to 'take care of each other'

Chelsea's Cobham training ground is back operating as a place of work but some club personnel are...



Chelsea boss Frank Lampard urg...
Soccer

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard urges people to 'take care of each other'

Chelsea's Cobham training ground is back operating as a place of work but some club personnel are continuing to self-isolate.

Last week, Callum Hudson-Odoi became the first Premier League player to test positive for coronavirus.

All club personnel who came into close contact with the Chelsea winger remain in self-isolation while the building at Cobham underwent a deep-cleaning procedure after Hudson-Odoi's diagnosis.

Blues boss Frank Lampard spoke to the club website about the player's recovery and also took the opportunity to urge everyone be responsible with regard to helping reduce the spread of the virus.

"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," said Lampard.

"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."

Lampard admits that it is impossible to know when he will be sending his team out on to the pitch once again but believes that there are more important things to be worrying about right now.

"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," added Lampard.

"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."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's offer to make their Millennium Hotel available to medical staff has been accepted by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.

The club explained that initiative came from the club owner Roman Abramovich who is currently exiled from the UK.

Blues chairman Bruce Buck delivered the news of the offer with the club keen to assist as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.

"Many of the medical staff will be working long shifts and may not be able to travel home or would otherwise have to make long commutes," reads the official club statement.

"Local accommodation helps maintain the health and well-being of these crucial personnel at this critical time.

"This will be for a two-month period, and then reconsidered in light of circumstances at the time.

"NHS staff will be those working in hospitals in the North-West London region, but that may extend to hospitals in other districts.

"The number of rooms utilised will depend on demand but potentially all the rooms in the Millennium Hotel could be given over for this purpose.

"No staff showing symptoms will use the hotel."

 

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Callum Hudson-odoi Chelsea Frank Lampard Premier League Roman Abramovich