The Premier League has revealed a record 103 players and staff tested positive for the coronavirus in the period from December 20 to 26. That surpassed the total a week earlier when the English top-flight hit a new high since testing began in 2020 with 90 positive cases.Premier League announced in a statement that so far in December, 15 Premier League games have been called off.”The League can confirm between Monday 20 December and Sunday 26 December, 15,186 COVID-19 tests were administered on players and club staff. Of these, there were 103 new positive cases. The safety of everyone is a priority and the Premier League is taking all precautionary steps in response to the impact of the Omicron variant.”You drink with sir Alex? You better avoid a police carLiverpool’s game against Leeds, Watford’s trip to Wolves and Burnley against Everton, all on Boxing Day, were cancelled. Arsenal’s home match against Wolves on Tuesday was axed on Sunday after an increase in case numbers among the Wolves’ squad. Leeds’ game with Aston Villa, scheduled for December 28, was also postponed on Sunday due to Leeds’ continued Covid and injury issues.Despite the rise in Covid cases and postponements, Premier League chiefs last week opted against halting the season despite calls from some top-flight bosses for a ‘circuit breaker’. At the same meeting, clubs were warned that games will go ahead if each team has 13 fit outfield players and a goalkeeper.Tuesday, 22.00: (7.75) Leicester (5.00) Liverpool (1.43)It is the sixth successive week that the number of Premier League positive cases have increased. In October, only 68 percent of players and staff had received either their first, second or third vaccination dose.The Premier League last week said 92 per cent of players and staff have now had at least one vaccine jab. Six Premier League games did go ahead on Sunday in front of crowds as Britain battles a significant rise in Covid cases.No restrictions have yet been put on attendance at matches in England, although supporters do have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test taken in the previous 48 hours.
