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Watford confirm one player, two staff members test positive for coronavirus

Watford confirm one player, two staff members test positive for coronavirus
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Those who have tested positive will isolate for seven days.

A Watford player and two members of staff have tested positive for coronavirus, the Premier League club said.

The trio are among six individuals connected to the Premier League to test positive for Covid-19, with Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan also among those infected.

Covid-19 tests were conducted across Sunday and Monday as part of the league's partnership with the Prenetics consortium.

Watford said all three members of the club – which it will not identify – will now self-isolate for seven days before being tested again, as per Premier League guidelines.

Top-flight teams voted unanimously to step up their return to action at Monday's shareholders meeting, allowing players to train in small, socially-distant sessions as part of phase one.

But Watford captain Troy Deeney had previously been concerned about a return to training, adding there were unanswered issues around BAME players.

Speaking to Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew on their Talk the Talk YouTube show, the Hornets striker said: "We're due back in this week. I've said I'm not going.

"Within the meeting I asked very simple questions. For Black, Asian and mixed ethnicities they are four times more likely to get the illness and twice as likely to have long lasting illness: Is there any additional screening? Heart stuff to see if anyone has a problem?

"I feel that should be addressed. I can't get a haircut until mid-July but I can go and get in a box with 19 people and jump for a header? I don't know how that works.

"No-one could answer the questions – not because they didn't want to, because they didn't have the information.

"I just said 'If you don't know the information, why would I put myself at risk?'."

The Premier League said that 748 players and club staff were tested between Sunday and Monday, but that it would not be publishing specific details on clubs or individuals' results.

It said: "The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency."

Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan tested positive for Covid-19
Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan tested positive for Covid-19 (Nigel French/PA)

However, Watford opted to follow Burnley in confirming they were one of the three clubs impacted.

The Clarets said: "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, 25th May.

"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."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool38323385335299
2Manchester CityMan City382639102356781
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd381812866363066
4Chelsea382061269541566
5Leicester CityLeicester381881267412662
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs3816111161471459
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves381514951401159
8Arsenal381414105648856
9Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd381412123939054
10Burnley38159144350-754
11Southampton38157165160-952
12Everton381310154456-1249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381111163858-2044
14Crystal Palace381110173150-1943
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914153954-1541
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham38109194962-1339
17Aston Villa3898214167-2635
RBournemouth3897224065-2534
RWatford38810203664-2834
RNorwich CityNorwich3856272675-4921

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