Premier League Confirms One Positive Coronavirus Case From Latest Round of Testing
The Premier League has confirmed that there has been one positive case in the latest round of mass coronavirus testing.
In a statement on the Premier League's official website, it was revealed that 1,829 players and club staff (a record high) had been tested for COVID-19 between Wednesday 17 and Sunday 21 June - the first round of tests since play restarted.
Neither the individual nor club of the one positive case is reported.
A total of over 10,000 tests have been taken in the Premier League since May, with 17 total positive results. The 11th round of bi-weekly testing is set to follow later this week.
In line with Premier League protocol, individuals who receive a positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for seven days before undergoing further testing.
The Premier League has been forced to make a host of adaptations to player and staff conduct, in order for the league to safely resume after a three-month hiatus.
Players and staff have been told to observe social distance guidelines when celebrating goals, avoid shaking hands and use only their own water bottles.
Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Arsenal had their Premier League return disrupted as three players were forced into isolation ahead of the defeat to Manchester City, following a single positive test result.
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, an unnamed Gunners' players was contacted after testing positive for the virus ahead of the Premier League's restart. After it was decided that the individual in question had been in 'close contact' with two teammates, all three were made to enter into self-isolation and miss multiple days of training.
It is reported that Arsenal believed that the test may have been a 'false positive', given the player had tested negative previously and had not done anything to put him at risk of catching the virus.
All three players eventually tested negative on the next round of official Premier League testing and were allowed to return to action.
However, the situation proved unfortunate for Arsenal, who ended up losing the game to Manchester City 3-0 on 17 June.