Six Premier League players and staff members have tested positive for coronavirus after a round of tests were conducted as part of Project Restart.
Six Premier League players and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 after 748 tests were conducted on May 17 and 18. It is believed the confirmed cases come from three clubs.
Premier League teams will test players and staff members twice a week in a bid to get the 2019/20 campaign back underway. It is believed the results come from 19 clubs, with one waiting until yesterday to conduct their checks.
A statement read: âThe Premier League can today confirm that, on Sunday 17 May and Monday 18 May, 748 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, six have tested positive from three clubs.
âPlayers or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.
âThe Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and oversight.
âNo specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the Premier League due to legal and operational requirements.â
A number of Premier League clubs were due to resume training in small groups on Tuesday under stage one of the return to training plan. It allows squads to socially distance while training in small groups, although contact is not permitted.
The top flight are aiming to resume action behind closed doors by June 12, although the start date could be pushed back by up to two weeks in case there are bumps along the road.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: âI think once you know when you can start full contact training, and weâve had a proper discussion about clubs over how much is required to create the fitness levels before they can start playing, youâre then in a position to confirm when the season start date is,â he said.
âWe havenât changed the start date; we have to be flexible about it. What we donât want to do is continually to move that start date. So, we havenât changed it but we need to be flexible and acknowledge weâre in a step-by-step process.â
Watford are due to resume training on Wednesday, although skipper Troy Deeney has revealed he will not be back due to concerns about potentially contracting and spreading the virus to his family.
âWeâre due back in this week. Iâve said Iâm not going in. Itâs nothing to do with financial gain,â Deeney said. âWhen I go into full detail about my personal situation, everyone here will go âno problemâ.
âMy son is five months and heâs had breathing difficulties. I donât want to come home and put him in more danger. Youâve got to drive in in your own kit, you canât have showers, then drive back in the same dirty kit youâve got.
âIf Iâm putting my clothing in with my sonâs or my missusâ itâs more likely to be in the house.â
The Government has advised the Premier League that players would have to be quarantined in hotels for two weeks before the season restarts if it is to have any impact on the chances of spreading coronavirus.
