LONDON —The
Premier League has revealed a
record 103 players and staff tested positive for the coronavirus in the period
from December 20 to 26.
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That surpassed the total a week earlier,
when the English top-flight hit a new high since testing began in 2020 with 90
positive cases.
So far in December, 15 Premier League games
have been called off, while the three divisions below the top tier have been
decimated by postponements.
"The League can today confirm between
Monday 20 December and Sunday 26 December, 15,186
COVID-19 tests were
administered on players and club staff. Of these, there were 103 new positive
cases," a Premier League statement said.
"The safety of everyone is a priority
and the Premier League is taking all precautionary steps in response to the
impact of the Omicron variant."
Liverpool's game against Leeds, Watford's
trip to Wolves and Burnley against Everton, all on
Boxing Day, were cancelled.
Arsenal's home match against Wolves on Tuesday
was axed on Sunday after an increase in case numbers among the Wolves' squad.
Leeds' game with
Aston Villa, scheduled for
December 28, was also postponed on Sunday due to Leeds' continued COVID-19 and
injury issues.
Despite the rise in COVID-19 cases and
postponements, Premier League chiefs last week opted against halting the season
despite calls from some top-flight bosses for a 'circuit breaker'
At the same meeting, clubs were warned that
games will go ahead if each team has 13 fit outfield players and a goalkeeper.
"The League has reverted to its
Emergency Measures, and has increased testing of players and club staff to
daily Lateral Flow and twice-weekly
PCR tests, having previously carried out
Lateral Flow testing twice a week," the statement said.
"The League is continuing to work with
clubs to keep people safe by helping mitigate the risks of COVID-19 within
their squads.
"We are also liaising closely with the
Government, local authorities and supporter groups, while being responsive to
any future changes to national or local guidance."
It is the sixth successive week that the
number of Premier League positive cases have increased.
In October, only 68 percent of players and
staff had received either their first, second or third vaccination dose.
The Premier League last week said 92 percent
of players and staff have now had at least one vaccine jab.
Six Premier League games did go ahead on
Sunday in front of crowds as Britain battles a significant rise in COVID-19
cases.
No restrictions have yet been put on
attendance at matches in England, although supporters do have to provide proof
of vaccination or a negative test taken in the previous 48 hours.
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