In total, 3507 players and club staff from 66 EFL clubs were included in the latest round of testing, with the results representing another sharp increase in positive cases. 

Brentford manager Thomas Frank and Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul are among those to have publicly confirmed their positive results and will now be required to self-isolate for 10 days. 

The EFL’s medical advisors Dr Richard Higgins and Dr Subhashis Basu said: “Today’s results reflect the current speed at which the virus is spreading amid the emergence of a new variant of Covid-19 but the low reported numbers across the overwhelming majority of clubs means we remain confident that our protocols continue to mitigate against the spread of infection as intended.

“The protocols, supported by the clubs and government, are allowing us to continue playing fixtures as scheduled but we cannot be complacent, which is why recently enhanced matchday and non-matchday Covid protocols have been issued to underpin the re-introduction of a league wide testing programme which commences next week.

“Medical advice continues to support that following these protocols is the most successful route to mitigating against the spread of infection.”