Championship club confirms the two positive tests for coronavirus as Leeds United prepare for return to tailored training

Both individuals are from fourth-bottom Hull City who have said that medical confidentiality means the names will not be disclosed.

The EFL have confirmed that 1014 players and club staff from all 24 Championship Clubs have been tested for COVID-19 over the course of the last 72 hours with two individuals testing positive and from the same club.

Those players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate in line with the guidelines provided by the EFL and only those who have tested negative will be permitted to enter training ground facilities.

The EFL say they will continue to make regular and relevant announcements as appropriate in respect of the testing programme to support competition integrity and transparency.

The EFL say no specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League.

A statement released by Hull City on Sunday afternoon read: "Hull City can confirm that two people have tested positive for COVID-19 following the first round of testing at the training ground.

"Medical confidentiality means the names will not be disclosed, and the club asks for this to be respected.

"The duo, who are both asymptomatic and feeling no ill effects, will now self-isolate for seven days – in line with the protocols set out in EFL guidelines – before being tested again at a later date.

"The Club will continue to liaise closely with the affected personnel and will make no further comment."

Hull vice chairman Eham Allam has already written to the EFL to call for the season to be voided due to the nation's ongoing battle against coronavirus.

The letter was leaked last week and a second letter from Hull to EFL chairman Rick Parry and the rest of the Championship clubs, detailing their concerns over restarting the season, has also since been leaked to the press.

Hull sit fourth-bottom and just two points above the dropzone having not won since New Year's Day.

Championship clubs have already been provided with the EFL’s updated and finalised Return to Training protocols ahead of the planned resumption of 'tailored training' on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Return to Training Protocols protocols identify the relevant Policies and Procedures in respect of arrival and preparation for players and staff attending a training ground environment, training procedures, warm-down and injury prevention programmes, exiting the training ground, Personal Protective Equipment, training ground hygiene protocol and media arrangements.

The Championship season remains suspended amidst the country’s ongoing battle against coronavirus which halted United’s Championship promotion push in the second week of March.

Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites sit top of the Championship and hold a seven-point cushion in the division’s automatic promotion places with nine games left.

The EFL are still hoping to fulfil the division’s remaining fixtures by the end of July but should the season be curtailed, Leeds would be crowned champions via the EFL’s unweighted points per game model with the EFL saying promotion and relegation should be retained.

Clubs in League Two have already voted to end their season subject to ratification from the FA and the unweighted points per game model would be used to declare final standings if curtailment was approved by 51 per cent of clubs in a vote.

United’s players have already been back at Thorp Arch training ground this week for individual running and fitness sessions.

Players have been given allotted times to arrive at Thorp Arch and then carry out the sessions with one fitness coach present on the site, while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Players arrive wearing their kit and are not permitted to enter the building.

Premier League clubs have been returning to training this week, albeit under enforced restrictions, and the top flight announced on Tuesday that six positive coronavirus results had been returned from the 748 tests carried out on players and staff.

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