A Bournemouth player has tested positive for COVID-19, the Premier League club announced on Sunday, becoming the eighth case involving a top English club.
The club added that the player’s identity would not be disclosed due to medical confidentiality and the patient would be in self-isolation for seven days.
In a statement, Bournemouth stated;
Following strict adherence to the Premier League’s return to training regulations, the club’s training ground remains a safe working environment for players and backroom staff, who will continue to be tested for Covid-19 twice per week.
English Premier League had announced on Saturday that there are positive tests at two clubs out of 996 tests conducted on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Apart from the Bournemouth player, the other positive patient is at a different club whose identity is yet to be known.
In previous tests conducted on May 17 and 18, a total of 748 individuals were tested with six testing positive from three clubs.
Some of those positive to coronavirus include Watford’s Adrian Mariappa and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan.
The third round of tests are due to take place on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of a key vote on Wednesday over contact training, subject to UK government’s approval.
Fewer positive results over a larger number of tests will suggest optimism for Premier League resumption.
On Tuesday, squads started non-contact training for the first time since the Premier League was suspended on March 13.
Several players still have concerns about returning, among them Watford captain Troy Deeney and Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante who have stayed away from training last week.
The Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ envisages a return to competitive action in June, although no date has been fixed.
More than 250,000 people have contracted the virus in the United Kingdom and over 36,000 have died.
