The second round of Premier League testing for coronavirus produced two positive results from nearly a 1,000 samples.
Tests were carried out on three days this week over players and staff at all 20 Premier League clubs.
And the return of just two positive tests, at two different clubs, from 996 taken is seen as a significant boost to hopes of a resumption of matches next month.
The Premier League clubs voted unanimously in favour of a return to a 'first phase' of training this week, with clubs provided with kits to tests players and staff twice.
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Forty kits were provided for the first round of testing but this was increased to 50 for the second round.
The first round of testing, carried out last week, saw six positive tests returned from three clubs, as part of 748 tests overall.
A Premier League statement read: "The Premier League can today confirm that on Tuesday 19 May, Thursday 21 May and Friday 22 May, 996 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, two have tested positive from two clubs.
"Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.
"The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency. No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public after each round of testing."
