December 22 – The English Premier League has confirmed seven new positive coronavirus tests in its latest round of testing conducted between December 14-20 on 1,569 Premier League players and staff.
The league did not name those who tested positive or their clubs but said they will self-isolate for 10 days.
Since the new season kicked off, more than 100 individuals in the English top flight have tested positive for the coronavirus in 16 rounds of testing. Newcastle United had an outbreak in their squad and staff earlier this month which forced the club to close their training ground and postpone their match against Aston Villa.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said last week that two players had still not shaken off the effects of the virus, with British media reporting on Monday that captain Jamaal Lascelles and winger Allan Saint-Maximin were the players involved.
Some clubs were allowed to reopen stadiums for a maximum of 2,000 fans but most have gone back to playing behind closed doors, including those based in London after the government tightened restrictions last week. Scores of countries have since shut their borders with Britain due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain which was discovered in the south of the country.
While no top-flight clubs have to call off games since Newcastle-Villa, Millwall have had to cancel matches in the second-tier Championship.
Millwall’s game at Bournemouth on Boxing Day and against Watford on December 29 have been postponed, while the team’s training ground has been closed due to an outbreak in the first-team squad.
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