EFL putting lives at risk

Most people in football have families to go home to.

Your post is "ludicrous".
It's not just about the footballers, it's about anyone they come into contact with.
The thought that the players and staff stay in their own bubble is ludicrous, they quite obviously come into contact with their families, people at grounds, hotels they visit etc etc.
Like gasEd I am astounded that regular testing does not take place and its no wonder what is happening now at clubs up and down the country.

www.itfc.co.uk/news/2020/december/new-covid-strain-hits-ipswich/


New strain behind Town Covid cases as speed of transmission causes EFL alarm, with Club physio backing a football circuit breaker
Town physio, Matt Byard, anticipates there will be more positive Covid-19 tests in the squad this week and has confirmed it’s the new variant strain that has hit Portman Road.
The Club’s general manager of football operations, Lee O’Neill, is the latest to test positive for the virus, joining manager Paul Lambert and five players who are all in self-isolation.
The training ground has been closed and players and staff told to stay away from the Club.
Portsmouth, Peterborough and Sunderland have also reported positive cases over the last few days but it’s the outbreak at Town that has caused extra concern at the EFL.
“In previous cases at clubs, the confirmatory source can normally be isolated down to a coach journey or a lengthy meeting indoors. We however, have had the same protocols in place since we started pre-season training,” Matt told the Club website.
“The players are still arriving to training in kit, training and then going straight home. No showers are in use, no canteen where they eat communally. If you consider a staged return to normal behaviour at the training ground in five phases, then we are at the beginning of phase two.
“We have only had two cases here in nine months [Kayden Jackson and Matt Gill] so to get seven in one week is alarming.
“I have looked at every avenue and the only scenario for transmission has to be our match against Burton last week and because it seems to have been passed on in a matchday environment, it is confirmation of a new development. We still have stringent protocols in place in terms of use of the dressing-rooms, I might add.
“We are doing things the right way. We always have done. Players and staff deserve a great deal of credit as they adhere routinely to the guidelines and the new way of operating. This has been thoroughly supported by senior staff and executives. It would have been very easy to allow players and staff to change in the building and have showers, especially given the change in weather. Our adherence to guidelines is still likely to have reduced potential transmission risk, even under these circumstances.
“This new strain of the virus clearly transmits far quicker than the original Covid strain and we have the data and symptom profile that confirms that is what we are dealing with here.
“We have tested all the playing and coaching staff and from the results, we can detect the level of infection and see the patterns emerging, however it’s the speed of the transmission that tells us it’s the new strain.
“We will be re-testing all the staff on Wednesday who have previously tested negative and I do have concerns that there will be more positive cases. It’s important to recognise the timing of testing is absolutely crucial in determining the diagnosis. A wrongly timed test can very likely produce a false result. We have to very closely determine potential transmission risks and consider the period of incubation before becoming infectious.
“We have been complimented by the EFL for the procedures we have had in place at the training ground and on matchday - and that is one of the reasons they have become very concerned over the latest developments.
“I know the EFL are looking at bringing in extra measures, with maybe more testing for example. I have always supported routine testing to secure a return to playing programme. Personally, with so many clubs affected by this presently and this new strain development, football may benefit from a ‘circuit breaker’ before a return to playing securely.”



First time I've seen this put forward, could spell disaster if found to be the case.

Hancock was saying the other day this new strain is 70% more transmittable. I guess I hadn’t taken into account that could now include close proximity outside at events like football matches. 

Like you say, I think the more we understand about this new strand is could mean the end of the league.

think ludicrous is a bit harsh. He is probably factually correct but as you say he doesn’t take into account the transmission.. that said I expect a fair percentage of footballers are living in digs away from their families. If they do have families these are likely to be young and at low risk themselves. If they and their families are obeying the rules then they won’t be travelling to see parents or at risk relatives, their kids will currently be home from school. These are professionals who are well drilled in looking after their bodies. If everyone uses common sense and follows the rules then the risk is minimised. The biggest risk will be the ground staff, coaches, admin etc, more likely to be living at home, less physically fit, probably having more contact with local family, but again if these guys follow the correct protocol then risk of infecting a first teamer should be minimal.

Of all the absolute nonsense you've posted over the years Topper, that may just be the most nonsensical yet.

Jesus wept.

surely that’s what we have been doing from the start, high risk having to self isolate, also being allocated the vaccine first, no one allowed to visit care homes etc

There is absolutely no counting method known to modern science that would allow Hancock to know whether this "new strain" is 70% more transmissible. Certainly not at this time. That is a made up figure.