Premier League Confirms 6 Positive COVID-19 Tests Among 748 Players, Staff

The English Premier League has confirmed six positive COVID-19 tests after conducting tests on 748 players and staff members on May 17 and 18. 

Those six positive tests came from three separate clubs. The names of players or staff have not been made public out of respect for "legal and operational requirements."

Individuals who have tested positive will self-isolate for seven days.

Clubs have begun reconvening for training as the Premier League plans to resume its 2019-20 season June 12. Matches will be played without fans due to safety concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus. Social distancing rules are being followed in training, and the Premier League is planning checks to ensure teams are working within the guidelines.

"We are looking at bringing in our own independent audit inspection team that we'll scale up over the next few days which will give us the ability to have inspections at training grounds to start with on a no-notice basis," Premier League director of football Richard Garlick told reporters. 

German soccer league Bundesliga successfully returned over the weekend after having 10 positive cases out of 1,700 people tested. Both leagues plan to continually test their players and staff to limit exposure, and those who test positive will undergo a mandatory quarantine period.

The return of European soccer leagues has given hope to some in the United States who might hope the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball (among others) are able to resume or start their respective seasons. Germany and the United Kingdom have both done a far better job at containing the spread of the coronavirus, with the United States being responsible for nearly one-third of all confirmed cases.

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Bleacher Report's David Gardner interviews athletes and other sports figures for the podcast How to Survive Without Sports.