Premier League records highest weekly Covid cases

The Premier League has announced 42 new positive coronavirus cases among club players and staff, the highest weekly figure recorded since the release of testing results began in May last year.

A Covid-19 outbreak has led to Tottenham’s last two games being called off, while Manchester United have reported a number of positive tests, with Tuesday’s fixture at Brentford in danger of being postponed.

“The league can today confirm that between Monday, 6 December and Sunday, 12 December, 3,805 players and club staff were tested for Covid-19. Of these, there were 42 new positive cases,” the Premier League said in a statement.

Twelve cases were reported last week, but several other clubs – including Norwich and Aston Villa – have since announced a number of positive tests as concerns heighten nationally amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

The Premier League wrote to all of its clubs last Thursday instructing them to reinstate Covid-19 emergency measures.

Top-flight clubs that had reached a vaccination rate of 85 per cent had been allowed to relax restrictions which were imposed in the summer, but those that had done so were told they must return to the stricter measures.

The league’s statement added: “The safety of everybody is a priority and the Premier League is taking all precautionary steps in light of the recent rise in Covid-19 cases across the country.

“The league has reverted to its emergency measures and will increase the frequency of both lateral flow and PCR Covid-19 testing of players and staff.

“The Premier League’s Covid-19 emergency measures, which are applicable to all clubs, include protocols such as wearing face coverings while indoors, observing social distancing and limiting treatment time. These are in addition to the more frequent testing.

“We will continue to work closely with the government, local authorities and supporter groups, while being responsive to any future changes to national or local guidance.”

Man Utd confirm positive tests, cancel training; Brentford game in doubt

Manchester United are in discussions with the Premier League over postponing their fixture away to Brentford on Tuesday evening after being forced to shut down their training complex due to positive Covid cases.

United said on Sunday that a “small number” of individuals among the first-team players and staff had returned positive lateral flow tests.

Those positive cases have now been confirmed by positive PCR tests, resulting in United shutting down their Carrington training complex for 24 hours “to minimise risk of any further infection”.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, United added: “The club is in discussion with the Premier League whether it is safe for Tuesday’s fixture against Brentford to continue, both from a Covid infection and player preparation perspective.

“Team and staff travel to London will be deferred pending the result of that discussion.”

Villa cancel recovery session after player tests positive

Aston Villa also have had one positive Covid-19 case in their playing squad, leading to a recovery session at the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground on Sunday being cancelled.

Full training at Villa, who lost 1-0 at Liverpool on Saturday, is expected to resume on Monday.

Further testing is to take place, while the club will also tighten their coronavirus protocols.

Villa face Norwich, managed by their former boss Dean Smith, at Carrow Road in the Premier League on Tuesday.

The government announced earlier this week fans will need to show proof of double vaccination or a negative test to attend sporting events with crowds of more than 10,000 people in England.

The rules are due to come into effect from December 15 as part of Covid ‘plan B’ measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

Brighton also hit by Covid cases

Brighton manager Graham Potter has revealed there are “three or four” positive tests among his playing squad, but their match with Wolves on Wednesday is not currently under threat.

“We’ve got a combination of injuries and a bit of Covid ourselves,” said Potter.

“We’ve got three or four, I would say, at the moment. And obviously that’s something we have to deal with, like everybody else.

“Now we’re just checking and making sure it’s at that number.”

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has urged all his players and staff to get their Covid-19 booster vaccination as soon as they become eligible.

He said: “Absolutely. The doctors suggest that they have to do it. Most of us have (had) it already.

“The players, for their age, the moment they have to do it, everybody is going to decide and they are going to do it.”