The English Premier League has announced the highest number of COVID-19 positives case since it began weekly testing in a single week.
The league in a statement on its website stated that there were 18 positives cases after 1,479 tests were carried out on players and club staff from December 21-27.
It is the highest number recorded so far since the Premier League began weekly testing in June, with the previous highest of 16 coming from a tested result of 1,207 between 9 and 15 November.
The results included four positive results among Manchester City’s playing squad and staff which had forced City’s trip to Everton on Monday night to be postponed just hours before kick-off after an outbreak among their squad worsened.
Both Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker were among four club personnel, who tested positive for the virus on Christmas Day prompting the club to close its first-team training ground leaving City’s upcoming fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester United in major doubt.
Arsenal on Monday also confirmed that defender Gabriel Magalhaes has also tested positive for coronavirus and is set to miss the Gunner’s match against Brighton later today.
The statement from the English top flight league read: “The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday 21 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 staffs who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days.
“The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency. No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public after each round of testing.”
