Ipswich Town boss calls for more COVID testing in the EFL

Ipswich boss Paul Lambert has called for more COVID testing to be done in the EFL and says the scarcity of Covid-19 testing in the EFL is "putting people's lives at risk" after he tested positive for the virus.

Lambert is one of eight people at the club to have had a positive Covid test.

The EFL has competition-wide testing at different times throughout the season with the next round scheduled for the week commencing 4 January.

"It's the protocols that have worried me more than anything else," Lambert told BBC Sport.

"I think you're putting people's lives at risk by not getting them tested regularly. It's been shocking.

"I know friends in Bundesliga 3, which is the equivalent of League One, and they've been tested over 50 times since they've been back in pre-season.

"Without our owner, who has paid for two out of his own pocket, we'd have been down to about six testings which is nowhere near enough."

Prior to Lambert's comments, the EFL said it would be "reviewing and strengthening" coronavirus protocols over the Christmas period "to help minimise transmission risk" and that players and staff showing symptoms would continue to be tested.

Revised protocols are likely to cover time spent in any indoor environment being kept to an absolute minimum, the use of gyms, changing and catering facilities and multiple coaches or individual car use being recommended for travel to matches.

Guidance will also stress the need to limit social contact with anyone outside of a household bubble over Christmas.

Along with Lambert, six players at the League One club and head of football operations Lee O'Neill have tested positive for coronavirus and Town's next two games have been postponed.