Four Sampdoria players test positive for coronavirus - including one for a second time

Fiorentina said three players and three staff members tested positive, while a day earlier Torino said one player had contracted the coronavirus

Sampdoria players in action against AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The club have not revealed which four players tested positive. Reuters

Four players from Sampdoria have tested positive for the coronavirus, including one for a second time, in what could prove a setback to hopes of resuming the Serie A football season.

"Currently asymptomatic, they have been placed in quarantine and will be constantly monitored as per protocol," the Italian club said in a statement.

Fiorentina said three players and three staff members tested positive, while a day earlier Torino said one player had contracted the new coronavirus.

On Thursday, the government said it was still examining medical guidelines of the Italian football federation, which are seen as the stumbling block to a resumption of the season.

Teams have been allowed to start practicing this week with players training individually and adhering to social distancing protocols. Full team practices are due to begin on May 18, but only if the medical protocol is approved.

Five Sampdoria players - Manolo Gabbiadini, Morten Thorsby, Albin Ekdal, Omar Colley and Antonino La Gumina - as well as team doctor Amedeo Baldari had tested positive in March.

Meanwhile, Juventus star Paulo Dybala - one of the first high-profile footballers to contract the virus in Italy - has been given the all-clear. The Argentine striker was still testing positive more than six weeks after his initial positive test, but has now made a full recovery.

Italy has recorded more than 215,000 cases of the virus, which has caused over 29,000 deaths in the country, while more than 96,000 people have made full recoveries, according to the latest figures.