Man Utd contending with 19 positive Covid-19 cases

Manchester United have recorded as many as 19 positive COVID-19 tests among players and staff this week, underlining the shocking scale of the outbreak at the club.

Routine tests came back negative ahead of facing Norwich on Saturday, but cases have soared in the days since and United’s Premier League fixtures against Brentford on Tuesday was called off.

The club’s Carrington training ground was even subject to a 24-hour shutdown starting on Monday.

A report from the Daily Telegraph has now revealed that the number of positive tests has hit 19 and talks are ongoing with the Premier League over whether Saturday’s game against Brighton will go ahead. The Seagulls have also recorded a number of positive cases.

All 19 individuals at United are currently in self-isolation, although it is said that not everyone affected are part of the immediate first-team squad or staff.

Even when the first-team facilities were closed on Monday, the women’s team and academy operations at Carrington are believed to have continued.

The Premier League has so far rejected calls from both Leicester and Tottenham to postpone their game at the King Power Stadium on Thursday evening.

But Burnley’s clash with Watford at Turf Moor on Wednesday became the latest casualty of the current COVID-19 spike less than three hours before it was due to kick-off.

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