German soccer identifies 10 coronavirus cases at 36 clubs

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The German Football League (DFL) confirmed Monday that 10 coronavirus cases were identified following the first stage of testing in the Bundesliga and second tier.

A total of 1,724 samples were taken from the 36 clubs across the top two divisions since last Thursday as the DFL tries to restart the 2019-20 season in May. The 10 people who tested positive have been quarantined in accordance with local health guidelines.

FC Koln tested all of their squad members, coaches, and backroom staff last Thursday and uncovered three COVID-19 cases. No further infections were detected following more testing Sunday and the club resumed group training Monday in anticipation of the Bundesliga's eventual return.

Before the news from FC Koln and the DFL, the only previous coronavirus case in the Bundesliga occurred in March when Paderborn defender Luca Kilian tested positive.

A second wave of tests will be conducted at Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga outfits this week. One of the reasons for the latest round of testing is to reduce the chance of false negatives, the DFL said in its statement.

The DFL initially targeted May 9 for the league season's resumption, but that date was moved back by at least a week when the government delayed its decision regarding a cap on public gatherings and other lockdown protocol last Thursday.

German chancellor Angela Merkel and the prime ministers of the country's states will meet Wednesday to discuss further easing of lockdown measures, and they will also talk about sporting events, according to CNN. As part of Germany's gradual return to normality, hairdressers were allowed to open Monday.

Germany has nearly 166,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with 6,866 related deaths.