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Leicester City to host Premier League games despite local lockdown

Leicester City says its Premier League schedule will not be impacted by the enforced local COVID-19 lockdown in the city.

A spike in infection cases has seen stricter measures imposed in the city by health officials for at least the next two weeks, with non-essential shops closed and restrictions on travel in and out of the area.

Leicester Racecourse last night (Tuesday) staged a scheduled behind-closed-doors horse racing meeting, and the city’s Premier League club said its forthcoming Premier League fixtures remain unaffected following consultations with local authorities, its Safety Advisory Group and the Premier League.

The Foxes will, as planned, travel to Everton this evening – despite restrictions on travel – and host Crystal Palace at the King Pwer Stadium this weekend.

The club said: “All parties remain entirely satisfied that, through the continued implementation of our COVID-19 operations plan, the club’s football operations can continue to safely function under existing protocols and, in doing so, there will be no greater risk posed to club personnel, visiting teams or our surrounding communities.

“The club remains agile to the evolving nature of the situation and suitable continuity arrangements are in place in the event we are required to deviate from our existing protocols.”

The fan store at the 32,000-capacity King Power Stadium has been closed again, while personnel working on-site remains limited to staff performing essential business functions that cannot be completed from home. The team is continuing to train at the club’s Belvoir Drive facility.

While Tuesday’s evening racing meeting at Leicester was given the go-ahead by local health officials and the BHA, many entries were withdrawn. Races had to proceed using flip starts after only four stalls handlers reported for duty because of health concerns.

A spike in infections in Leicester means the city has three times more cases than the city with the next highest total.

Image: Leicester City (Twitter)