The FA have warned clubs that they have to play next weekend's FA Cup third-round fixtures or risk forfeiting the tie.
With Fulham's coronavirus crisis — which has caused them to have two Premier League games postponed — having grown in recent days, they could be forced to field academy players in the tie against QPR next Saturday depending on how many players are available by then.
But there will be even greater fears for non-league clubs such as Marine, Chorley, Borehamwood and Stockport County who will undergo testing paid for by the FA this week which could see asymptomatic players ruled out and clubs struggling to field a team.