The Premier League have revealed that there were 18 positive tests for coronavirus in the last round of testing, the highest number recorded so far this season.
A total of 1,479 players and members of club staff were tested for Covid-19 between 21 and 27 December with a total of 18 returning positive tests, 11 more than the previous week and two more than the previous season high number.
Monday’s fixture between Everton and Manchester City was called off at less than six hours’ notice because of a series of positive tests in the City camp including players Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus.
It was the second game to be postponed in the 2020-21 campaign after Aston Villa vs Newcastle was moved due to an outbreak at the Newcastle training ground.
City have closed their City Football Academy training venue for an indeterminate period.
Testing during “Project Restart” over the summer had been undertaken twice a week for playing and non-playing members of staff operating within the club’s respective bubbles, but that was reduced to once a week for the beginning of the new season as national cases had fallen sufficiently.
However, the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the south east of England, which City are understood to believe is the cause of their outbreak, and the rising number of cases nationally has convinced the Premier League to return to twice-weekly testing for clubs in Tier 4 areas, while those in lower tiers are also expected to be put back into the increased testing protocol as soon as is practical.
When players test positive for Covid
Both Walker and Jesus are currently self-isolating for 10 days in line with government guidance after their positive test results, but the postponement of City’s fixture was an unexpected move.
With the Premier League conscious that their season is currently scheduled to end just a few weeks before the delayed Euro 2020 tournament next summer, clubs had previously been advised that if they had 14 players fit to play and Covid-secure, they would be expected to carry on as normal.
However, the new strain and wave of new infections nationally have changed the situation and postponements have become commonplace in the Football League.
There are now significant concerns about City’s clash with Chelsea on Sunday and even their Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United, slated for Wednesday 6 January.
Previous test results
Figures courtesy of the Premier League
- Round 1: 31 Aug-6 Sep – 1,605 tested, with three testing positive.
- Round 2: 7-13 Sep – 2,131 tested, with four testing positive.
- Round 3: 14-20 Sep – 1,574 tested, with three testing positive.
- Round 4: 21-27 Sep – 1,595 tested, with 10 testing positive.
- Round 5: 28 Sep-4 Oct – 1,587 tested, with nine testing positive.
- Round 6: 5-11 Oct – 1,128 tested, with five testing positive.
- Round 7: 12-18 Oct – 1,575 tested, with eight testing positive.
- Round 8: 19-25 Oct – 1,609 tested, with two testing positive.
- Round 9: 26 Oct-1 Nov – 1,446 tested, with four testing positive.
- Round 10: 2-8 Nov – 1,646 tested, with four testing positive.
- Round 11: 9-15 Nov – 1,207 tested, with 16 testing positive.
- Round 12: 16-22 Nov – 1,530 tested, with eight testing positive.
- Round 13: 23-29 Nov – 1,381 tested, with 10 testing positive.
- Round 14: 30 Nov-6 Dec – 1,483 tested, with 14 testing positive.
- Round 15: 7-13 Dec – 1,549 tested, with 6 testing positive.
- Round 16: 14-20 Dec – 1,569 tested, with 7 testing positive.
- Round 17: 21-27 Dec – 1,479 tested, with 18 testing positive.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/38ImSxx
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