Not yet Uhuru: EPL clubs record seven new Covid-19 cases

progress is being made but it is certainly not yet uhuru in the battle against Coronavirus  as Premier League clubs have confirmed another seven new Covid-19 cases in the latest round of testing.

Clubs are required to test players and staff twice a week as part of tougher coronavirus protocols introduced in the New Year.

Some 2,957 tests took place between Monday 25 January and Sunday 31 January, which identified an infection rate of 0.24%, compared with a nationwide infection rate of about 2%.

The latest results compare favorably with the position on January 3, when the Premier League reported 40 positive tests in a week.

The Premier League uses the highly accurate PCR test, which costs around £100 per person, enabling positive cases to be identified quickly to prevent the spread of the virus.

Twice-weekly testing was introduced early in the New Year to combat the spread of the new variant of the virus, which appeared to be spreading more quickly and does not always result in symptoms.

At that point there was widespread concern that football may be suspended after high profile breaches of social distancing rules by Premier League players, who attended parties during the festive period.

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In addition, players celebrated goals with tight huddles, attracting criticism from public health experts for increasing the risk of spread and setting a poor example to a country in lockdown.

However, under pressure from Government, the Premier League worked closely with clubs and players to highlight the need for strict compliance with the rules.