Portsmouth fear coronavirus outbreak is 'widespread' as senior players test positive
By Jordan Cross, Sunday, 20th December 2020
Mark Catlin admitted the Pompey coronavirus outbreak appears ‘widespread’ as further cases were confirmed.
And that looks set to plunge the Blues’ season into chaos with Boxing Day’s fixture with Swindon postponed and the possibility others could follow suit.
Two further players today tested positive for Covid-19 after Jack Whatmough yesterday did likewise, following the defender falling ill ahead of the Hull game.
The News understands the players in question are senior members of Kenny Jackett’s squad who would likely have been involved in the Swindon clash.
Pompey have suspended group training with the decision made to now test the entire squad after the latest developments.
Blues chief executive Mark Catlin explained there are now concerns about what those results can reveal, coming just hours after getting the green light to push forward with fixtures when players tested negative after coming into close contact with Whatmough.
Catlin underlined the well-being of those in and around the first-team set-up is of critical significance, with the club following the relevant guidelines issued by the EFL and government.
He said: 'As I said these things are moving quickly and situation is changing hourly.
‘It’s moving rapidly and unfortunately a couple of players reported not feeling well today.
‘We’ve had them tested and unfortunately they’ve come back positive.
‘So we’ve now taken the decision to test the whole squad.
'Obviously safety is paramount and EFL protocols deem that in the event of a positive test and people feeling unwell you need to isolate the people who have come into direct contact by their definition.
‘But it’s quite clear this is more widespread in line with the rest of society.
‘So we’ve taken the decision to totally err on the side of caution and test the whole squad.’
The news of the positive tests follows on just 48 hours from the euphoria of Pompey moving to the top of the League One table after victory at Hull.
The weekend has brought further outbreaks in the division, however, with six positive tests at Ipswich.
That follows on from similar problems at Sunderland, where the positive cases are now believed to be into double figures.
Peterborough have also seen an outbreak tear through their squad with Bristol Rovers calling off two games.
There were no plans for an emergency EFL meeting to discuss the way forward and the prospect of the season being suspended, but that now appears likely to change after the latest developments.
NorthLondonStag wrote:It's rife down here, apparently, and can't see sport continuing now given no-one is supposed to leave Tier 4 it seems . The NLS family is now locked down with a family member tested positive.
Amber Andy wrote:NorthLondonStag wrote:It's rife down here, apparently, and can't see sport continuing now given no-one is supposed to leave Tier 4 it seems . The NLS family is now locked down with a family member tested positive.
I hope the family member keeps well NLS, and other family members don't succumb to the virus.
I have a daughter with a family, living in Essex. The new Covid 19 strain is a concern.
NorthLondonStag wrote:Amber Andy wrote:NorthLondonStag wrote:It's rife down here, apparently, and can't see sport continuing now given no-one is supposed to leave Tier 4 it seems . The NLS family is now locked down with a family member tested positive.
I hope the family member keeps well NLS, and other family members don't succumb to the virus.
I have a daughter with a family, living in Essex. The new Covid 19 strain is a concern.
Thank you and hope you and your family keep well.
Jamie wrote:Personally I think January will see another national lockdown as the variant will start to move round the UK and also the Christmas bubble spike that is bound to happen.
If/ when that happens football and other elite sport should probably stop too for a short while.
Next few months are going to be some of the worst yet for it spreading and for restrictions. But at least by March / April so many over 65s will have been vaccinated, the wider risk to hospitals and death will be massively reduced.
The average death age for Covid in the UK is 82. When you consider you'd need ten 85 yr olds to die of Covid and just one 52 year old, to get that average, it just makes the whole thing a bit of a joke and certainly an eye opener.
Given hospitalizations and deaths are mostly older people. They really should be giving more targeted advice around that. Forget trying to fine students who have a party, or making such a fuss about bubble sizes and everything else. They need to get the message firmly out to older people that they should avoid younger people literally like the plague until they've been vaccinated and also that non OAPs should avoid the older generations too, providing only critical care as required.
To destroy a whole nations economy, mental health etc etc when you could just isolate the vulnerable is the mistake thst will haunt this country for decades to come, long after those we're trying to protect are gone anyway.
I get we need to keep hospitals running and save lives but as soon as those numbers drop due to the vaccine roll out they'd better open everything back up and let us crack on or there will be serious questions need answering.
west country stag wrote:Total lockdown thro the UK needed .
Sedgwick wrote:west country stag wrote:Total lockdown thro the UK needed .
not again... they don't work they just delay the inevitable while destroying business and peoples mental health.
Roll out the vaccine, protect the vulnerable get back to normal.
Martin Shaw wrote:the rules for travelling from or in tier 4 are the same as during lockdown. You can travel for work where you cannot work from home. Similarly for staying in accommodation, where I always had to confirm I was working, and sometimes show proof.
west country stag wrote:Total lockdown thro the UK needed .
oldweststander wrote:Sedgwick wrote:west country stag wrote:Total lockdown thro the UK needed .
not again... they don't work they just delay the inevitable while destroying business and peoples mental health.
Roll out the vaccine, protect the vulnerable get back to normal.
I think you will find that the vaccine is being rolled out as fast as they can get it. The UK has ordered 40m doses but it does not all arrive at once, other countries, including the USA, have ordered millions of doses too.
You are right re lockdown, the fallout re mental health and businesses is awful but it would be worse if the NHS were overrun, hence the reason to lockdown and delay the spread, should it happen.
part time pete wrote:The nightingale hospitals can’t be used as we have no staff to run them, unless you take staff from hospitals that are already under staffed.
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