St Johnstone’s league match against Aberdeen will go ahead this weekend, it has been confirmed.
Doubt surrounded the fixture on Thursday afternoon when it was revealed a Dons player had contracted the coronavirus.
It has now emerged the Pittodrie club returned two preliminary positive tests for COVID-19 among its playing squad.
One player has now been confirmed as a positive by a follow-up NHS test, while the second player is awaiting the result of a follow-up NHS test.
The Scottish Government has instructed that both players will require to self-isolate, along with a further six players found to have been in close proximity to the initial positive player.
But the game at McDiarmid Park has been given the green light to take place.
A statement noted “This instruction for self-isolation has been unanimously endorsed by the Joint Response Group.
“In light of the action taken, and after consultation with Scottish Government, Aberdeen’s Scottish Premiership match against St Johnstone on Saturday will go ahead as scheduled.”
Rod Petrie, Joint Response Group chair, said: “As we have said from the outset, public health is the absolute priority of the Joint Response Group.
“As soon as we were informed of the positive tests, the information was immediately referred to the Scottish Government via our Chief Medical Consultant.
“Given the well-documented outbreak in Aberdeen it was imperative that we took the swiftest action to enable the local Health Protection Team to respond immediately.
“The Scottish Government’s instruction to the JRG was clear and unequivocal, as was our support of that instruction.
“Given the circumstances, we issue the strongest possible message to all clubs to ensure compliance with the twice-weekly testing procedure and Scottish football’s Return to Playing Protocol.
“It is imperative that everyone adheres to Scottish Government public health advice.”
Saints are looking to build on last week’s 1-1 draw with Dundee United in what will be their first home league game of the season.
Michael O’Halloran is missing for the Perth side through suspension, while Andrew Considine is suspended for the Dons.
