SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The National Basketball Association contacted its teams on Friday evening to reaffirm the league’s position regarding the cancellation of games. Speculation about team travel, fan interaction, and the potential to play fanless games has been circulating with the spread of the coronavirus around the world.
Sources who saw the memo the league sent to teams said the memo was just a reminder of the league’s chain of command protocol when it came to changing the league schedule.
The league has already postponed the start of the opening season of the Basketball Africa League due to the spread of the coronavirus. The league had previously sent a memo to NBA teams stating that players and coaches should refrain from taking fan items to sign them before games.
The league has an existing policy regarding game cancellation, usually due to weather related travel issues or problems with the arena or basketball court. The league last canceled a scheduled game due to the death of Kobe Bryant, allowing the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers to postpone their January 28 game to April 9.
Coronavirus in Utah
The League Score is the second Utah sports and coronavirus event.
Due to travel problems linked to the virus, the State of Chicago has decided that it will not play its originally scheduled men’s and women’s basketball games against Utah Valley on Saturday, March 7.
The games were officially canceled on March 4.
These are the first Division I men’s basketball games canceled due to coronavirus, according to Jeff Goodman of the stadium.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency on March 6 related to Utah’s response to the coronavirus.
Later that night, authorities confirmed the first case of the virus in the state.
“Above all, I hope this patient will recover quickly and completely. It is undoubtedly a frightening situation for their patient and their family, and we are ready to help them, ”said Herbert. “Utah residents should feel confident that all levels of state and local government and our health care providers have been preparing for this for several weeks now.” We will certainly see more cases in the near future, and we are ready to take the necessary measures to protect public health and limit the spread of this disease. “
Coronavirus resources
Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus problems in Utah? KSL wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by sending an email to [email protected].
What is COVID-19? Here’s what you need to know to stay healthy: ksltv.com/432037/what-is-covid-19/
The latest KSL coronavirus stories can be found at ksltv.com/coronavirus/.
Where in the world has coronavirus already appeared? See the map: ksltv.com/?p=432035
Your Life Your Health: How Can Parents Prepare Their Home, Children Against Coronavirus: ksltv.com/?p=432060
How can I prevent it?
The CDC has a few simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:
- Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
The CDC does not recommend wearing a respiratory mask to protect yourself from the coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.
