Premier League reports most coronavirus infections since pandemic began

At the beginning of March 2020, everyone’s world has changed, including the football world. Even after less than two years, everything has not yet returned to normal, quite the opposite. The Premier League has reported the most coronavirus infections since the pandemic began.

Since the beginning of May last year, coronavirus testing has been mandatory in the Premier League. Because of the growing Omicron variant, the competition has introduced even more stringent testing.

As a result, players and coaches are now tested daily with a lateral flow test (self-test) and must undergo a PCR test twice a week. In the week between Monday 20 December and Sunday 26 December, 15,186 coronavirus tests were carried out, of which 103 were positive, a record number.

“Everyone’s health is a priority and the Premier League is taking every precaution in response to the impact of the Omicron variant,” the league said in a statement.

It is the Omicron variant that has shaken up the competition. Teams such as Tottenham and Manchester United have struggled with the coronavirus, and 15 games have been postponed in the Premier League in the last month.

Several coaches, led by Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel, are calling for five substitutions to be reintroduced so they can spread the Christmas load among more players.

Source: Sky Sports