Football City hope Covid-19 tests won’t harm build up to Rams clash
THE EFL has seen plenty of matches affected by Covid-19 so far this season, but could we soon see a first Championship fixture affected?
Against rising numbers of Covid19 infections, with some 16 Premier League players now unavailable for the next round of games and international matches taking place, it looks like there could be plenty of disruption across the game this coming weekend.
On Monday Bristol City released a statement confirming a Covid-19 outbreak at the club and explaining that the Failand training ground had been closed until tomorrow to stop the further spread of the virus.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions regarding Bristol City’s playing squad and the next match, at home to Derby County on Saturday.
How many people at Bristol City have been affected and who?
The Post’s website Bristol Live has been told the names of six people affected - three players and three backroom staff - but there are likely to be other people affected.
The Telegraph reported on Monday that they understood that 10 people were now self-isolating as per the guidance of Public Health England.
No details of those affected have yet been published.
How serious is this?
Firstly, we wish all the best to anyone affected and hopefully nobody is seriously ill. The club have not confirmed any details so far.
However, it is our understanding that the game would have been in jeopardy if it had been played the weekend of 14 and 15 November.
As it stands, and as reported last week, the club is lucky that there was no game that weekend and therefore they have had a full two weeks to limit the outbreak. As a result the training ground has been closed. The test results later this week will be very significant.
When willl the players be tested next and when will the club release more information?
The City players are due to be tested today with results known tomorrow, with - hopefully - all affected players and staff returning tomorrow and Friday.
The club is unlikely to make any further statements until Friday, when the pre-Derby press conference is scheduled to take place and updates will be given from Dean Holden.
What’s the backgound and how has the outbreak occurred? Timeline of events:
» Bristol City play Huddersfield Town on Tuesday 3 November
» Famara Diedhiou reports symptoms on Wednesday 4 November
» Diedhiou returns a positive test and misses the Severnside Derby on 6 November
» Several other players and staff report symptoms over the weekend of 7 & 8 November
» Tests on Monday and Tuesday 9 &10 November to the whole group reveal a ‘number’ of positive cases
» Bristol Live reveals that there has been an outbreak at the club on Tuesday 10 November
» The Telegraph reveals on 16 November that Bristol City have shut their training ground as a result of the outbreak
» The club confirms the outbreak on 16 November, and says that further testing will take place later in the week
What about the youth sides? The U18s and younger players are continuing to train up at SGS and remain unaffected.
What’s the club’s view?
The club are hopeful that disruption for the weekend’s game is minimal and points out that the players would have had time off over the international break anyway.
The Robins are confident that Saturday’s game will go ahead and be unaffected - with one club source explaining that certain national press coverage has been an ‘overreaction’. Also that there may be an increased focus on this weekend’s game because of Wayne Rooney being in charge at Derby.
What are the EFL rules here?
As reported last week, EFL clubs are not required to do any mandatory testing - except following an international break. After this weekend, players need only be tested if they show symptoms of the virus (a persistent cough, a loss of taste or smell, a high temperature).
This contrasts with last season when playing squads were tested twice every week. The governing body may rethink this if the number of those affected continues to climb. Anyone with symptoms is tested and if positive must self-isolate for 10 days before being tested again.