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​Public Health England Confirms Why Only Ben Chilwell And Mason Mount Have To Self-Isolate

​Public Health England Confirms Why Only Ben Chilwell And Mason Mount Have To Self-Isolate

After Friday's game, they were seen interacting with Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, who later tested positive for coronavirus

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed why England footballers Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell are the only two players who have to self-isolate after the team's Euro 2020 match against Scotland last Friday.

After the game, the two athletes were seen interacting with Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, who later tested positive for coronavirus.

Sky Sports reports that the three Chelsea teammates had embraced on the pitch, and are also understood to have spoken in the tunnel for around 25 minutes after the game.

Both Mount and Chilwell were removed from training on Monday as a precautionary measure.

Despite the fact that they have both tested negative for the virus themselves, it was later confirmed by PHE that they would have to isolate until 28 June - meaning they will not only miss England's clash against the Czech Republic tonight, but could miss the squad's last-16 match, depending where the team finishes and the results in other groups.

According to The Athletic, PHE - which had been in dialogue with the medical teams for both England and Scotland - said the interaction between Mount, Chilwell and Gilmour constituted close contact.

PHE states that close contact with an individual who has tested positive for Covid-19 includes 'face-to-face contact including being coughed on or having a face-to-face conversation within one metre', having 'been within one metre for one minute or longer without face-to-face contact' or having 'been within 2 metres of someone for more than 15 minutes'.

A spokesperson for PHE said: "PHE is working with the FA to identify close contacts of Billy Gilmour and any risk to other players and staff."

Ben Chilwell earlier this month.
PA

The Football Association (FA) said Chilwell and Mount had been confirmed as close contacts of Gilmour, and will now be training in 'private areas' away from the rest of the team.

It said in a statement: "We can confirm that Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount must isolate up to and including next Monday (June 28). This decision has been taken in consultation with Public Health England.

"The pair were confirmed overnight as close contacts of Scotland's Billy Gilmour after his positive test following last Friday's match."

The statement continued: "Chilwell and Mount will isolate and train individually in private areas at England's training base St. George's Park, with the rest of the squad returning there after tonight's fixture against Czech Republic at Wembley.

Mount and Chilwell training on Monday, before they were made to train privately.
PA

"We will continue to follow all Covid-19 protocols and the UEFA testing regime, while remaining in close contact with PHE.

"The entire England squad and staff had lateral flow tests on Monday and all were again negative, as was the case with Sunday's UEFA pre-match PCR tests. Further tests will be carried out as and when appropriate."

The FA said it would follow the necessary protocols and stay in contact with PHE, and that the entire England squad and staff posted negative lateral flow tests on Monday, along with negative PCR tests on Sunday.

England manager Gareth Southgate said the problem had 'nothing to do with being on the pitch' and that there was 'no issue with teams training, for example', which is why other teammates do not have to self-isolate, having not been in close contact with Gilmour.

The Scotland team maintain that no close contacts of Gilmour have been identified, meaning that the remainder of players will be allowed to face Croatia this evening.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: SPORT, News, Football, Euro 2020, Euros