West Ham United Records Three Fresh cases of Coronavirus
West Ham United manager David Moyes and two of the club’s players have tested positive for coronavirus. The club was informed of the positive tests while preparing for Tuesday’s home Carabao Cup tie against Hull City which the Hammers won 5-1. 57-years-old David Moyes’ 23-year-old defender Issa Diop and 24-year-old midfielder Josh Cullen will now be required to self-isolate.
According to a statement released by the club, it reads: “The manager and both players immediately left the stadium and have returned home.” West Ham said the three men were all asymptomatic and assistant manager Alan Irvine took charge of the Hull match at London Stadium, which both Diop and Cullen were due to start.
Irvine said: “At 18:20 we suddenly got some information from our doctor and head physio to say there were three positive tests, the manager and the two players.” “We’d had contact insofar as we were in the same area of the stadium as David. We’d been at the stadium for about two hours before the match started.”
“We were shocked by the news. We’ve had so many tests and not had any positive. But we’ve been very particular about protocol right from the start – the medical team are very aware of what has been happening and we’ve followed all the protocol, and we’ll be following protocol now.” Hull City said they consulted with the English Football League about whether the game should go ahead and the League One club said they felt “comfortable” after being “satisfied” with how West Ham followed guidelines.
Tigers manager Grant McCann said his team found out about the positive tests “just before the teamsheets” were submitted and that his players and staff “did not come into contact with Moyes or the others”. Public Health England guidelines state those with Covid-19 should self-isolate for at least 10 days, meaning Moyes, Diop and Cullen will not be able to attend training or the league game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 27 September.
Due to the increasing number of cases in the league, it is expected that fans will not be expected in the field anytime soon, fans will only be allowed into the stadium if only the virus is reduced to the lowest minimum. Leyton Orient was to host Tottenham Hotspur yesterday but because of they recorded one positive case in their club the game was postponed.
