“It is absolutely clear – everyone can see we are facing a war – and it is a war we need to win.
“Football plays an important part in society, but everyone understands where our priorities need to lie.”
Duxbury has opened Vicarage Road to NHS staff fighting on the front line against coronavirus.
More than 1,000 nurses and medical staff at the Watford General Hospital are using the stadium’s facilities.
On Watford’s gesture, West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Christine Allen said: “When we asked for a couple of meeting rooms originally, we never thought we would end up with such an amazing facility.
“There is something special happening here – the warm welcome, the space for our staff to be together away from their wards in a place with a relaxing atmosphere.”