Bolton Wanderers' home clash against Wycombe this weekend will be rescheduled for later in the season after the match was postponed owing to positive Covid-19 tests.
Several positive tests within the Wanderers squad meant the game has been postponed and poised to be played later on in the season.
Other games in League One this weekend have also been called off in light of positive tests among squads.
READ MORE: When could Covid postponed Bolton Wanderers home game vs Wycombe be rearranged for?
Sheffield Wednesday vs Accrington Stanley, Gillingham vs Crewe Alexandra and Lincoln City vs Doncaster Rovers have all been called off today.
In light of the rise on Covid-19 cases, the EFL has informed its 72 clubs that they must undertake more frequent testing while also being required to tighten measures at training grounds as part of what are described as enhanced RED protocols.
As of Saturday, EFL clubs must undertake daily Covid-19 testing while physical distancing is required at training grounds.
The use of indoor training facilities must be restricted while there are also time limits on manual therapy - such as soft tissue massages.
Attendance at the first team training ground is now strictly limited to only players and key staff. Press conferences are required to be held virtually - with no media permitted to attend training grounds.
With regards to matchdays, clubs have also been told that players are no longer permitted to shake hands while interactions between players and staff post-match is to be limited.
In guidelines outlined by the EFL on a matchday, each club must ensure that:
- Individuals maintain physical distance whenever possible including during goal celebrations, in the warm-up and when entering and leaving the pitch.
- There should be no shaking of hands
- There should be no spitting or nose clearing
- Hand sanitisers should be used before and after every match
- Players should use their own water bottles.
As for travel to and from matchday fixtures and to the training ground, the EFL stress:
- Car sharing is avoided.
- Clubs consider having people travel separately to matches, such as staff
- They aim for two-meter gaps between players and staff where possible. An arms’ length is a good guide for a one-meter gap
- They avoid seating players and staff directly in front or to the side of one another on coach travel where possible
- Everyone must wear a face covering during the journey unless medically exempt.
- Players in key positions, such as goalkeepers, are not placed in situations where they would be classed as close contacts of one another.
And as for the use indoor training facilities, EFL protocols state:
-
Face coverings must be worn at all times in any indoor area.
-
Poorly ventilated gym areas where social distancing cannot be maintained must be closed and use of any other gym areas must be risk assessed, socially distanced and with staggered use considered.
-
Clubs use of kitchens and dining facilities must strictly following the government guidance in this area. The use of such facilities must be risk assessed by a suitably qualified specialist in health and safety and meet infection control, ventilation and physical distancing requirements. Kitchen staff must be kept to a minimum required and use face masks as far as reasonably practicable. Staggered use must be considered.
-
The use of showering and changing room facilities must be risk assessed by a suitably qualified specialist in health and safety. The risks must be managed to as low as reasonably practicable and conducted with due attention to infection control, ventilation and physical distancing.
-
Team Meetings in poorly ventilated rooms must be avoided or strictly time limited if not. Alternatives must be considered with a preference for virtual meetings.
-
There must be no congregation in communal areas at the Training Ground, including but not limited to changing rooms, medical rooms, social areas, sports halls, canteens, meeting rooms.
For full details on all the guidelines football clubs must now abide by, follow the link here.
