Chelsea's FA Cup opponents Morecambe will undergo Covid-19 testing on Thursday ahead of the third-round meeting between the two clubs at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
A coronavirus outbreak within the League Two side's squad over the festive period resulted in matches against Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City being postponed and players and staff forced to self-isolate for ten days.
The Shrimps' training ground was shut as the club attempted to halt the spread of the virus, a new variant of which can be passed on much more easily and has resulted in a third national lockdown in England.
Morecambe's players and staff will come out of self-isolation this evening and then can begin their preparations to face Chelsea on Sunday.
“We come out of isolation at 5pm on Tuesday and then we can start training,” Morecambe boss Derek Adams told The Visitor.
“We haven’t been able to train for 10 days now, we haven’t had any activity since our last game against Grimsby. Staff and players haven’t been allowed into the training ground, so it’s been a long break for them.
“The strain of the virus seems to be accelerating quite quickly around the country and prevention is the best source at this moment in time.
“The decision was taken by the football club’s doctor that the best course of action was to self-isolate the whole squad and staff to stop the spread of the virus.”
There has been a spate of positive Covid-19 tests among Premier League sides in the past two weeks, with Manchester City and Fulham having games called off due to outbreaks in their squads.
Chelsea players have been tested regularly for coronavirus throughout the season – and twice a week since London was put into tier four restrictions before Christmas – but testing across the EFL has been more sporadic.
That is, according to The Telegraph, set to change, however, with clubs in the Championship, League One, and League Two being tested twice a week.
And Adams has confirmed Morecambe's players and staff will be tested on Thursday ahead of their game with Chelsea.
The match should prove a welcome distraction for Frank Lampard and his players following a disappointing run of results in the Premier League.
The Blues have lost four of their last six top-flight games and speculation over Lampard's position has intensified.
Chelse are likely to include several young players in their squad to face the Shrimps, with Tino Anjorin, Lewis Bate, and Henry Lawrence all in contention to feature.
