Elneny tests positive as international break sees spike in EPL virus cases
London: Arsenal and Egypt midfielder Mohamed Elneny has tested positive for Covid-19, his agent said on Monday, as figures published by the Premier League showed a sharp increase in cases coinciding with the international break.
Already unpopular with Premier League clubs because of the risk of injury to key players, the mood among the likes of Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and his fellow top-flight bosses is unlikely to be improved by figures from the Nov.9-15 latest round of weekly tests showing the Premier League returned 16 positive coronavirus cases from 1,207 players and staff tested.
This compares with four positives from 1,646 tests during the week of Nov.2-8 and a previous weekly high of 10 positives.
And while players who were away on international duty at the time would not have been included in the Premier League’s latest figures, there may now be concerns that the knock-on effects of players returning from long-distance trips have led to a surge in reported cases.
Those who tested positive will now self-isolate for 10 days.
As has long been its policy, the Premier League refused to name the clubs or individuals involved.
But Alan Nazmy, Elneny’s agent, tweeted: “Elneny Positive Cov19 get well soon.”
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association confirmed in a Facebook post that Elneny was isolating in line with medical protocols.
His Covid-19 result came just three days ater it was announced that Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah had also tested positive while on international duty with Egypt.