Soccer-Premier League's COVID-19 cases rise to 16 in latest round of tests

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - European Super Cup Final - Chelsea Training - Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland - August 10, 2021 Chelsea's Christian Pulisic during training Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Sixteen individuals tested positive for COVID-19 in the Premier League's latest round of tests carried out on 3,060 players and club staff, the league said on Monday.

The third round of tests conducted between Aug. 16-22 showed an increase in infections after the English top flight recorded 20 cases in the first two weeks of testing.

"In line with testing provisions in healthcare, the Premier League will use lateral flow tests this season, and anyone who tests positive will then take a PCR test to confirm the result," the league said.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Pre Season Friendly - Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 8, 2021 Arsenal's Ben White in action Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Among the players who tested positive last week were Chelsea's Christian Pulisic and Arsenal's new signing Ben White, with both players missing Sunday's clash which Chelsea won 2-0 to move to the top of the standings.

Arsenal forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were among club's four positives a week ago, but Aubameyang returned to the side for the weekend's clash.

(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska, editing by Pritha Sarkar)