Plans for Scottish football's big kick-off have potentially been dealt a blow following a major coronavirus outbreak at St Mirren.
Seven members of staff at the Paisley club have tested positive for Covid-19 nine days before the Scottish Premiership is due to start.
The Scottish football authorities announced that clubs would have to revert to twice-weekly testing after the requirements were relaxed earlier this month.
A Saints statement read: "We can confirm our testing regimen has identified several members of our coaching staff have tested positive for Covid-19. Thus far no members of the playing staff have tested positive and we are taking all possible precautions to ensure there is no further spread."
A statement from the league and governing body read: "The Joint Response Group has been notified that St Mirren Football Club has today returned seven positive tests for Covid-19.
"We immediately contacted the Scottish government and the office of the clinical director for Scotland to relay this information.
"As a consequence, St Mirren's planned friendly match at home to St Johnstone, scheduled to take place on Saturday 25 July, has been cancelled.
"In light of this and other recent events, the JRG hereby notifies Scottish Premiership clubs that with immediate effect they must revert to twice-weekly testing protocols until further notice."
St Mirren are due to kick off their season at home to Livingston on August 1.
Hamilton, who they faced in a friendly last Saturday, are confident their safety protocols will prevent any potential transmission.
Accies said: "Following the departure of the St Mirren squad on Saturday the area used was cleaned and disinfected.
"The location occupied by St Mirren was a segregated area at the far end of our stadium and is separate from the areas used by Hamilton Accies' players and staff on a matchday.
"Subsequently on Monday, all players and backroom staff were tested with all results returned negative."
In the first three weeks of coronavirus testing since contact training resumed for Scottish Premiership clubs, only one positive case out of 2,780 tests had been recorded, for an unnamed Aberdeen player.
