EPL: No positive cases in fourth round of COVID-19 testing
The Premier League's planned restart on June 17 received a huge boost. In the fourth round of coronavirus testing, there were no positive cases. The latest batch of tests, which were conducted on Thursday and Friday, are the first to take place since clubs agreed a return to contact training. Here are further details on the same.
For the fourth round of testing, the number of tests available to each club increased from 50 to 60. 1,130 people were tested in total and there were zero positive cases. A statement read: "The Premier League can today confirm that on Thursday May 28 and Friday May 29, 1,130 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, zero have tested positive."
In the first round, 748 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19 on May 17-18, with six testing positive from three clubs. Between May 19-22, a total of 996 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19, of which two tested positive from two clubs. The third round saw 1,008 players and club staff being tested for COVID-19. There were four positive cases.
"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," the statement added.
It is important to highlight there have been 3,870 negative results in the first four rounds. The mass rounds of testing is so vital going forward. Moreover, this has also brought a sense of relief with the Premier League eyeing to resume the 2019-20 season next month. Earlier, the approval of contact training serves an another major boost for Project Restart.
Now with 3,882 tests undertaken in total, the percentage of positive tests drops to just above 0.3%. These figures will allow for further optimism.Both the government and the EPL have made it clear that the health and safety of all players and staff is paramount.
