The Premier League’s plan to restart on June 17 received a fresh boost Saturday after the latest round of coronavirus tests produced no new positive cases in English football’s top flight, report agencies.
A total of 1,195 players and club staff were tested in the sixth edition of screening, which took place on Thursday and Friday.
“The Premier League can confirm that on Thursday 4 June and Friday 5 June, 1,195 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, zero have tested positive,” the league said in a statement.
Saturday’s announcement means there have been a mere 13 positives from an overall 6,274 tests carried out on Premier League players and club staff.
Testing will continue on a twice-weekly basis as officials look to resume a season that was suspended in March because of the pandemic.
No Premier League matches have taken place since March because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to more than 50,000 deaths according to a Reuters tally this week based on official sources, but a restart is scheduled for June 17.