LONDON: The Premier League said yesterday that six people from three different clubs had tested positive for Covid-19 out of a sample of 748 individuals.
The coronavirus tests were taken on Sunday and Monday ahead of the return to small group training.
“Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days,” the league said in a statement.
“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 in this way after each round of testing.”
Burnley later announced that their assistant manager Ian Woan was among those to give a positive result after being tested on Sunday.
“In line with strict Premier League requirements and following a positive test, Ian will now self-isolate for a period of seven days, with a view to being tested again week commencing Monday, May 25,” said Burnley’s statement.
“Ian is asymptomatic and is currently safe and well at home. He will remain in close communication with club personnel regarding his re-engagement in training once he is clear of the virus.”
On Monday, the Premier League voted to allow clubs to begin small group, non-contact training with some clubs returning yesterday.
The league will decide early next week when to allow contact training as it looks for a June restart to the season which was halted on March 13.
On Saturday, Germany’s top-flight became the first major European league to return to action.
The Bundesliga returned 10 positives out of 1,700 tests, on May 4, ahead of its return to training.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said it is the right time for Premier League to resume.
“I always said we don’t want to rush anything, but I don’t think it is rushed. I hope that we are now in England on the right side of the thing. It’s all about when – but you need to re-open different parts of life again,” Klopp told Liverpool’s website.
“Everybody agrees about that. I think the way how we do it now with the Premier League, it’s now a good moment to do it for the football teams.
“From a personal point of view I can say it’s a massive boost.”
Liverpool will begin staggered training sessions this week and Klopp said he is not concerned about the fitness of his players.
“From a physical point of view, the boys are in a good shape, I think. Then we have to start getting used to the pitch, football boots and balls again; that’s our job, that’s what we do, so we need to get used to that again,” the German added.