Colchester Utd to be tested twice a week for Covid-19
Football bosses confirmed the measures for all 72 clubs this week
The EFL and Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) confirmed yesterday, 6th January, the introduction of twice-weekly coronavirus testing for all 72 clubs from 11th January.
It follows this week's round of mandatory Covid-19 tests, which Colchester United return a full round of negative results on Monday.
All tests will be fully funded by the PFA after being initially procured from the private sector.
EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said: "We have repeatedly maintained that adhering to the stringent protocols implemented during the re-start last summer and then across all Clubs since the beginning of the season was going to be our best chance of beating the virus and to keep playing matches.
"Only last week we took the decision to enhance these to further minimise risk, though with the new strain of the virus taking hold across parts of the country, it is now clear from our discussions with our medical advisors and public health officials that additional testing, operated in conjunction with strict protocols, may prove beneficial in the immediate short-term.
"I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the PFA for their support in helping us to finalise a position on testing across all three divisions on a twice-weekly basis. We will continue to review the situation and make any adjustments or changes as circumstances dictate with the health and well-being of our players and Club staff the overwhelming priority."
The EFL's Medical Advisors, Dr Richard Higgins and Dr Subhashis Basu, added: "The emergence of a new variant of COVID-19 and the current speed at which the virus is spreading means we are going to have to be prepared to review and implement new practices to ensure we have appropriate measures in place at any given time.
“Lateral flow testing is an important adjunct in our ability to identify infected individuals at an early stage, particularly those with high viral loads as is more common with this new variant, as these people are thought to be most infectious.
"In addition to hand hygiene, through consistently reinforcing good behavioural practices including physical distancing, wearing facial coverings indoors, reducing time spent in enclosed areas and improving building ventilation, we are taking the most effective steps to reduce further transmission."