SARS-CoV-2 Dynamics in the Premier League Testing Program, United Kingdom

Abstract

During 2020-2022, players and staff in the English Premier League in the United Kingdom were tested regularly for SARS-CoV-2 with the aim of creating a biosecure bubble for each team. We found that prevalence and reinfection estimates were consistent with those from other studies and with community infection trends.

Keywords: COVID-19; English Premier League; PCR testing; SARS-CoV-2; United Kingdom; infection prevalence; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure

Infection dynamics in the English Premier League testing program for SARS-CoV-2, 2020–2022. A) Weekly PCR test positivity. Dots indicate infections; error bars indicate 95% CIs. Colored lines show inferred mean prevalence in the UK ONS Community Infection Survey. Gray shading shows period where the testing protocol was based on a rapid antigen test, with subsequent confirmatory PCR; hence, PCR positivity is not comparable because sampling was nonrandom. B) Distribution of individual Ct values over time since first positive test. Dashed circles indicate estimated reinfections: orange represents Alpha wave, in which 1 person was reinfected, as determined from 3 samples; purple represents Delta wave, in which samples indicate that 3 persons were reinfected. Ct, cycle threshold; ONS, Office for National Statistics.