Nathan Jones has confirmed that Luton Town players are Covid-free after their Championship clash with Queens Park Rangers was postponed at the weekend due to positive tests.
The club has not named the players and staff affected but the Hatters manager eluded to some having to self-isolate after coming into contact with other people with coronavirus.
It comes after more than 40 games were postponed during the Christmas period, while a series of high-profile incidents in the Premier League saw players exposed after not complied with coronavirus guidance.
However, speaking about the Hatters, Jones said: “If you knew the trail, you have to understand that people have partners, have children who are in school, or some partners are teachers, some partners are front-line workers for example.
“The exposure to it is not just through our football club, we’re just sometimes collateral damage.”
However, the self-isolation period ends tomorrow and improved EFL testing and Covid-19 protocols, implemented this week, have shown none of the Town players are infected with the virus.
Jones said: “The isolation period is until Friday, in terms of when people were flagged up. Some have to do ten days, some seven. The ten days are up on Friday but we are Covid-free.
“We’ve been tested twice, the club were excellent. On Saturday we tested ourselves and were clear, then we have been tested again as part as the FA, we were clear. What we have to make sure now is that we have to remain in our bubble.”
This week the EFL reintroduced mandatory twice weekly testing for players and staff, as they had been when football returned in May after the first national lockdown.
Now, the club have once again closed the changing rooms and canteen at their Brache training headquarters, while players are required to arrive in their training kit.
Jones added: “Our protocols are excellent, from Gary (Sweet – chief executive) who set those, Chris Clark who does a wonderful, wonderful job in terms of ensuring they are adhered to.
“But sometimes, no matter how good you are, you can get penetrated now and again, that is what has happened really. The knock-on effect was one or two players, one or two staff, then we had to isolate because of certain things.
“It is not as sinister or as bad as it first looks but what you have to do is make sure your protocols are right, make sure you tighten up on everything and we just had to go back to post-lockdown 1.0 in terms of our protocols.”
