Sunderland to be tested twice a week for COVID-19 after EFL reach key agreement

The EFL schedule has been badly affected by a number of outbreaks across clubs, with the Black Cats having to postpone four fixtures over the festive period.

At one stage 14 members of Lee Johnson's senior squad had tested positive.

Testing has not been regular through the campaign to date, but the growth of a more transmissable strain of the virus across the country has forced the EFL to act.

Their protocols for clubs to follow have been strengthened, and they hope that the introduction of regular testing will help prevent further significant outbreaks.

Players will be tested using lateral-flow devices procured from the private sector. Any player who tests positive will then undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) antigen test for confirmation.

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:

"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.”

Sunderland CEO Jim Rodwell had called upon the PFA to help fund testing back in May, arguing then that it could help Leagues One and Two complete their respective campaigns.

"The PFA is sitting on cash, these [players] are their members, it’s the right thing to do," he argued.

“Players need to play, let’s make no bones about that.

“Their positions are only worsened by not playing football.

“I don’t see how they are in a better position with the season not finishing, and that seems to be going amiss at the moment.”

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