Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers says players kept away from squad after showing symptoms of coronavirus

Third-placed Leicester City travel to Vicarage Road on Saturday to face Watford in the Premier League

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring the third goal against Aston Villa. AFP

Harvey Barnes (L) celebrates after scoring the first goal. EPA

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates the fourth goal, scored by teammate Harvey Barnes. Getty

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City shoots and scores his team's third. Getty

Jamie Vardy celebrates after scoring the third goal. EPA

Leicester's Jamie Vardy is the Premier League top scorer and could now be recalled to the England squad. EPA

Aston Villa's Mbwana Samatta and Jack Grealish look miserable after Leicester's fourth goal. Reuters

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has said several of his players have shown symptoms of coronavirus and have been ordered to keep away from the squad.

As of Thursday afternoon, a full Premier League programme is scheduled for this weekend, with Rodgers' third-placed side taking on relegation-threatened Watford.

English football's decision to go ahead with fixtures comes after its Italian and Spanish counterparts decided to postpone matches for up to three weeks, while the game between Manchester City and Arsenal on Wednesday was called off as a "precautionary measure" after Olympiakos owner Vangelis Marinakis tested positive for coronavirus.

Leicester boss Rodgers said at his pre-match press conference that disruption would be a "shame" but public health was more important than football.

"We've had a few players that have shown symptoms and signs [of coronavirus]," he said.

"We've followed procedure and they have been kept away at this moment from the rest of the squad and then we'll see how that develops."

Rodgers said it related to three players, and when asked if any would be unavailable at the weekend, he said: "We have to wait and see, and it's having that agility to react.

"We're guided by football and federations," he said. "We have to press on with our work and prepare as normal."

"The game is all about the players and the fans," he added. "If you have one of those not there, it's obviously not the same."

Several Arsenal players are in self-isolation after Marinakis contracted coronavirus but they are expected to return to training on Friday, the club said.

Marinakis met several Arsenal players when the Gunners hosted the Greek side in a Europa League match last month.

Serie A in Italy, the European country worst hit by the virus, has already suspended its matches until April 3.

On Wednesday, Juventus defender Daniele Rugani became the first Serie A footballer to test positive for the coronavirus.

France's Ligue 1 will continue its season but without spectators while La Liga announced Spain's top two divisions will be suspended for at least two weeks after Real Madrid confirmed its squad went into quarantine on Thursday after a member of the club's basketball team tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

Uefa, European football's governing body, on Wednesday postponed two matches in its Europa League competition.

Inter Milan's match against Getafe was halted after the Spanish club refused to travel to Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak and another, Roma, said they had been denied permission to travel to Spain for their game against Sevilla.

Uefa will hold a video conference meeting of all 55 football federations in Europe plus representatives of clubs, leagues and players to discuss the impact of the coronavirus on all football in the region including Euro 2020, it said Thursday.

Uefa has so far declined to discuss whether Euro 2020, which will be held in 12 countries across Europe between June 12 and July 12, will be postponed or venues altered.

The meeting would be held next Tuesday and that "discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including Uefa Euro 2020".

"Further communication will be made following those meetings," it said.