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Coronavirus: Watford player and two staff test positive

Premier League on Tuesday confirmed six positive cases across three clubs; Burnley said assistant manager Ian Woan tested positive

Vicarage Road

A Watford player and two members of non-playing staff were among six positive tests for coronavirus in the first round of Premier League testing.

The club confirmed the news late on Tuesday evening, after Burnley had earlier said assistant manager Ian Woan tested positive on Sunday.

The Premier League announced on Tuesday that six positive cases of coronavirus across three clubs had been confirmed after an initial 748 tests were carried out on players and non-playing staff.

A club statement said: "Watford Football Club confirms that three people have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus following testing at the training ground over the past 48 hours.

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Bryan Swanson confirms six individuals at three clubs of the 19 tested so far have produced positive coronavirus results

"Of those three positive tests, one is a player and two are members of staff. All three have asked that medical confidentiality be respected and, therefore, the club will not be naming those involved.

"All three will now self-isolate for seven days - in line with the protocols set out in Premier League guidelines - before being tested again at a later date.

"Strict adherence to the Premier League guidelines has ensured the training ground remains virus-free and a safe environment for the players to continue to work.

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"The club will continue to liaise closely with the affected personnel and there will be no further comment."

Premier League clubs were allowed to begin non-contact training on Tuesday, with twice-weekly testing to be carried out around the sessions in an attempt to avoid the spread of the virus.

However, Watford captain Troy Deeney said on Tuesday morning he would not return to training this week amid concerns for his son's health, as well as that of BAME players.

Burnley said Sean Dyche's assistant Woan is currently "asymptomatic" and will follow Premier League requirements by self-isolating for seven days, with a view to being tested again on Monday.

Ian Woan and Sean Dyche discuss plans for Burnley
Image: Sean Dyche's assistant at Burnley, Ian Woan (left), tested positive on Sunday

"Burnley Football Club can confirm that after completing a Covid-19 test on Sunday, 17th May, assistant manager Ian Woan has tested positive," the club said in a statement released on Tuesday evening.

"The Burnley first-team squad and playing staff were all tested last weekend, ahead of a return to training."

The Premier League's announcement earlier on Tuesday revealed the six positive tests had come across three clubs, but did not reveal which teams the cases had come from.

Burnley added that it would "continue to follow the first stage of the return to training protocol, while adhering to Premier League guidance in terms of testing all players and backroom staff twice per week".

'We need to wait for trends'

Liverpool training

Analysis by Bryan Swanson, chief reporter, Sky Sports News

The fact there are six positive tests must be taken seriously.

Those individuals, whether players or non-playing staff, will have to self-isolate for seven days before they take a further COVID-19 test.

They cannot attend the training ground and three clubs will now want to establish what contact those individuals had with other people, in particular in the same household.

In theory, they should have not have come into close contact with anyone outside their household since March, under the government's social distancing rules.

It is also important to highlight more than 99 per cent of people have tested negative in the first round.

These figures, across 19 clubs, show that coronavirus is not widespread in Premier League clubs at the moment, at least not amongst the 40 people tested per club.

One club only carried out testing on Tuesday, and their data will be included in the next round of figures.

Up to 50 people from each club will be tested in each round going forward, twice a week, after a request by clubs, meaning up to 2,000 test results a week will be provided to the Premier League.

Prenetics, the company conducting the tests, has told Sky Sports News it can cope with increased demand.

The second round of test results are due to be published on Saturday, before clubs hold talks next week about the potential return of contact training.

We need to wait for trends, using further rounds of results, before we can assess the significance of these figures and establish whether the authorities feel it is safe to resume competitive games next month.

Carra: Positive day for Premier League

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Jamie Carragher says the Premier League will be ‘hugely relieved’ with the low number of confirmed cases in its first round of coronavirus testing since players were permitted to return to training on Tuesday

Speaking on The Football Show, Jamie Carragher said the Premier League will be "hugely relieved" at the low numbers of positive tests returned on the first day back at training, adding that the results could provide reassurance for other players considering avoiding their clubs' training grounds.

"I think it was a massive positive," he said. "Less than one per cent of the people tested came back with a positive result. If there had been 20 or 30 tests, that would've been a huge problem and there would have been a big reaction, but this morning you can see it's been a positive in terms of actually getting the season restarted. I think that's well on the way.

"It is only phase one, there is a situation at Watford, the situation with Troy Deeney and talk of other players not coming in, but I'm not sure I get that - the safest place to be at the moment is the football training grounds or stadiums. The players and staff who've tested positive have done it from outside, they've been tested now, and they have to self-isolate.

"People going into training grounds in the next few days will be fine and Covid-free. We all have families and different worries, but it was a huge positive for the Premier League yesterday and a positive in some ways we found out who has Covid-19, so the players and clubs can get back on with training in small numbers. Richard Masters and the Premier League will be hugely relieved."

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