Manchester City’s Monday night clash with Everton has been postponed after five members of Pep Guardiola’s first-team group tested positive for coronavirus.
The news comes after Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus and two City staff members returned positive tests, missing the Boxing Day win over Newcastle.
The virus has now spread within City’s bubble, meaning their Sunday’s big fixture against Chelsea is also at risk.
A Premier League statement read: “Manchester City lodged a request with the Premier League today to rearrange the game following an increase in positive COVID-19 test results received by the club this morning, on top of the cases reported on Christmas Day.
“This rise has created uncertainty and the Premier League Board received medical advice that the match should be postponed. The Board agreed to rearrange the game as a precaution, and further testing will now take place.
“The decision has been taken with the health of players and staff the priority.
“The Premier League continues to have full confidence in its protocols and rules, and the way in which all clubs are implementing them.
“The League wishes those with COVID-19 a safe and speedy recovery and will rearrange the postponed fixture against Everton in due course.”
According to reports, City officials believe the outbreak has stemmed from an outbreak at a London hotel they stayed in ahead of last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final win over Arsenal.
Jesus, Walker and the two staff members who previously tested positive have been in self-isolation since discovering they have COVID-19.
They have to remain quarantined for 10 days per the government guidelines, as will the latest players to have contracted the illness.
City also released a statement, which read: “After the latest round of Covid-19 testing, the club returned a number of positive cases, in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day.
“With the security of the bubble compromised, there posed a risk that the virus could spread further amongst the squad, the staff and potentially beyond.
“Based on strong medical advice the Premier League, in consultation with both clubs, have decided to postpone the fixture.”