Premier League reports 5 new COVID-19 cases

The Premier League announced five new positive COVID-19 results Monday after 1,128 players and staff were tested between Oct. 5-11.

"Players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days," per the league's official statement.

The most recent returns are a decrease in the number of positive cases from the previous round of league-wide testing.

Nine positive cases were identified between Sept. 28 and Oct. 4, while 10 were reported during the prior seven-day period.

England's top flight continues to play behind closed doors following initial hopes that some fans could return by Oct. 3. That was put on hold when the U.K. government unveiled a three-tier lockdown system to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"The Premier League is certain that, through league-wide guidelines and a code of conduct developed with scientific experts and agreed by the Government's Sports Grounds Safety Authority, fans in stadiums will be as safe or even safer than at any other public activity currently permitted," a league statement from late September read.