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As the novel Coronavirus continues to be an international concern, medical officials and athletic teams are taking the utmost precautions when dealing with the illness.
Earlier today, it was announced that the both the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be played without fans.
Only essential staff and limited family members will be allowed to attend the postseason games, per a statement from NCAA President Mark Emmert. The full release can be read below:
NCAA President Mark Emmert statement on limiting attendance at NCAA events: https://t.co/TIHHJjdse5 pic.twitter.com/8I1HdceDfN
— NCAA (@NCAA) March 11, 2020
In addition to the athletic events, it was also announced by ASU President Michael Crow that all classes will me moved online for the next two weeks, and the effects of the disease will be closely monitored to determine when in-person classes will start back up again.
ASU students are currently on spring break, and classes begin again on March 16.
Furthermore, the effects of COVID-19 on playing fields will be evident with a Sun Devil athletic program this weekend when softball takes on No. 1 UCLA in a top-25 matchup in Los Angeles.
UCLA has taken similar protocols to many other sports, and they will be having no fan attendance until at least April 10. Only essential staff will be allowed in the facility.
Info regarding this weekend’s Pac-12 Opener at UCLA ⬇️ https://t.co/DiNUB3K8C4
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) March 11, 2020
Among other sports, the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament is currently underway in Las Vegas, with ASU getting set to take on the winner of Colorado and Washington State tomorrow night at T-Mobile Arena.
Statement from the Pac-12 on the men's basketball tournament, sport competitions and other championship events: pic.twitter.com/rQpt54GYcG
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) March 12, 2020
Within the last hour, the tournament announced that games will be played without fan attendance.
And on the ice, Denver University, which is the site hosting the 2020 Loveland Regional for the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey tournament, announced that they will also not have fan attendance for their postseason matchups.
Thus, if ASU hockey is placed in the Loveland Regional, there will be another effect.
Across all major sports at both the collegiate and professional level, more organizations and universities seem to be taking action to ensure that the right safety and health risks are calculated.