18 Premier League Players, Staff Test Positive For COVID-19

The Premier League confirmed on Tuesday that 18 players and staff have tested positive for coronavirus, the highest number since weekly testing began.

Manchester City’s Clash at Everton was postponed on Monday after an outbreak of a lot of cases at City.

According to the statement released by the league; ”The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday 21st December and Sunday 27 December, 1,479 players and club staff were tested for covid-19”.

”Of these, there were 18 new positive tests. Players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days”.

The figure is more than the previous highest figure recorded of 16 for November 9-15.

Prior to the latest positive cases, City had initially announced on Christmas day that players Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus tested positive to the virus.

The club’s training ground has also been closed for an ”indeterminate period” with more testing on players and staff to occur before it can reopen.

City are due to face Chelsea away in the Premier League on Sunday and Manchester United in the League Cup semi-finals on the 6th of January.

Ralph Hassenhuttl will not be in attendance for his side’s match against West Ham on Tuesday as a member of his family has tested positive to the virus, Southampton revealed.

The Everton-City Postponement was the second time in 2020 that a Premier League game has been cancelled due to Covid-19 since the 2019/20 season resumed in June.

The number of positive tests recorded over a day period in England and Wales hit new high of 41,385 on Monday, according to UK government figures.