Manchester United vs Brighton cancelled following rampant rise in COVID cases
The number of cancelled matched are now in double figures
Manchester United's match against Brighton on Saturday is the latest to have been called off due to the number of Covid-19 cases in the Red Devils camp, with Thursday's game between Leicester and Tottenham also postponed.
Oldham's match with Crawley Town has also been cancelled due to an increase of Covid-19 cases.
United are understood to have had only nine players available because of Covid and other injuries for Tuesday's game against Brentford, which was called off late on Monday night, and just seven for the Saturday lunchtime match against Brighton at Old Trafford.
In confirming the postponement of a second Manchester United match, the league said in a statement: "It is with regret that this is the fourth Premier League fixture to have been postponed in the past week.
"While recognising a number of clubs are experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks, it is the league's intention to continue its current fixture schedule where safely possible. The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority."
What matches have been cancelled?
The number of postponed weekend matches across England's top divisions reached double figures by 3pm today, with the EFL announcing stricter COVID protocols including increased testing.
The matches that have been cancelled today include:
- Man Utd v Brighton - Premier League
- Leicester v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
- Crawley Town v Oldham - League Two
- Gillingham v Crewe - League One
- Sheff Wed v Accrington Stanley - League One
- Swindon v Walsall - League Two
- Chesterfield v Guiseley - FA Trophy Third Round
- Maidenhead Utd v Maidstone - FA Trophy Third Round
- Northampton v Barrow - League Two
- Broomhill FC v Cumbernauld Colts - The Scottish Lowland Football League
- East Kilbride v Celtic B - The Scottish Lowland Football League
- Civil Service Strollers v East Stirling - The Scottish Lowland Football League
- Edinburgh Univ v Spartans - The Scottish Lowland Football League
- Vale Of Leithen v Rangers B - The Scottish Lowland Football League
- Caernarfon Town v Newtown - Welsh Premier League
- Liverpool FC Women v Charlton Women - FA Women’s Championship
- Coalville Town v Barwell - Southern League Premier Division Central
Premier League resisting suspending all matches
The Premier League is resisting calls to suspend all matches this weekend despite a raft of Covid-related postponements in the last 48 hours.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank called for all of the weekend's top-flight matches to be postponed, with the highly-transmissible Omicron variant wreaking havoc with the schedule, but the league is currently intending to play as many games as possible.
Following a run of games being called off, the EFL announced this afternoon that it has moved to implement a regime of "enhanced training ground protocols" which include increased testing and also provided updated guidance on the minimum number of available players that are required to fulfil a fixture.
All players must now take a lateral flow test on the day before a game, while social distancing measures will be required outside of physical sessions, along with restrictions to the use of indoor facilities, manual therapy and group travel.
Any person who returns a positive lateral flow test will then be required to take a PCR test and isolate, in line with Government guidance.
Clubs must play if there are at least 14 available players
Clubs will be expected to play where there are 14 players, including a goalkeeper, available from the registered squad list. Under-21 players who are not on the squad list, but have played one league match, or any other contracted player not on the squad list "but otherwise would have been eligible to play" will also be included in the considerations.
The EFL said it is encouraging all eligible players and staff to get fully vaccinated and also book a booster jab to "help protect colleagues and minimise the risk of fixtures being postponed".
As of November's data, 75% of players across the EFL had been either fully vaccinated, had a single jab or intend to be vaccinated.
The total of double-vaccinated players was 59%, with 16% set to get the jab and 25% of players not currently intending to get a vaccine.
"The EFL has opted to strengthen its protocols for all clubs to help minimise the health risks to individuals"
The EFL's medical advisor Dr Richard Higgins said: "Further to enhanced medical guidance recently issued, in response to a growing number of Covid-19 cases and subsequent fixtures postponements in recent days, the EFL has opted to strengthen its protocols for all clubs to help minimise the health risks to individuals while seeking to mitigate against the threat of further fixture postponements in the weeks ahead.
"Alongside enhanced protocols which includes mandatory testing ahead of matchdays, the EFL continues to strongly encourage players and staff at clubs to get fully vaccinated and obtain a booster jab if eligible to do so.
"We know that getting double-jabbed and boosted now will reduce the risk of getting seriously ill or dying from Covid-19, reduce the risk of catching or spreading Covid-19 amongst team-mates and loved ones, while helping protect against Covid-19 variants including Omicron."
What are the current restrictions?
Mask wearing in shops
From Tuesday, face coverings will be mandatory in shops in England. Regardless of vaccination status, those who do not wear a mask in retail establishments - other than those who are exempt for medical purposes - will be asked to leave.
Mask wearing on public transport
While travel across the country remains permitted, face masks will also be made compulsory on public transport in England. This includes buses, trams, trains and taxis. People with medical and respiratory exemptions will not be included in these restrictions.
Students and teachers advised to wear masks
Face coverings are also "strongly advised" to be worn for students in year 7 and above in communal areas unless they are exempt. According to the Department of Education, this is to make sure they can "continue to benefit from classroom teaching".
University students encouraged to wear masks
Department for Education guidance also states that face coverings should be worn by university students and staff in communal spaces and corridors. They have also encouraged that staff and students to do lateral flow tests twice weekly.
Mask wearing in pubs as well?
As of yet, it isn't mandatory to wear a face-covering in pubs and restaurants in England. It comes as Health Minister Edward Argar explained why wearing a mask in a pub or restaurant is difficult. He said people standing at the bar are often there for a short time and will "sip a drink on their way back to a table, where they'll be seated".