Euroleague announced that the game in Northern Italy will be held on Tuesday at closed doors • USA: Pro League will be shut down due to virus? • BBC clarified: "In contact with health authorities, the situation is closely monitored"
Messina. Milan will work out without an audience?
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GettyImages
Fernandes. Bureau does not take risks
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GettyImages
After seeing the first effects of the Corona virus outbreak on the football world, and especially on the Italian league, now also in the European and world basketball world, first steps are being taken to maintain public health.
The Euroleague announced today that the match between Armani Milan and Real Madrid will be held this Tuesday without a crowd. In light of the World Health Organization guidelines, local authorities in Italy and consultation with the Euroleague medical team, it was decided that the game in Milan will be held at closed doors. The announcement also said that the Eurocap game between Brescia and Venice will also be held without a crowd on Tuesday. A very limited number of people will be allowed into the halls, and even journalists will not be able to enter the game.
Also, the Italian Basketball Association had already rejected last week's entire league turnover scheduled for last weekend and early this week.
American sport on alert Corona
But the Corona virus scare doesn't miss the U.S., either. According to US media, the mainland pro leagues - NBC, the Hockey League (NHL) and the Baseball League (MLB) - are in close contact with health authorities due to the outbreak of the virus in the US Also the first death in Washington state.
Currently, there is no immediate intention to cancel, postpone or edit games without a U.S. audience as is the case in Italy, but things may change if the situation in the country worsens.
McCollum (left). Corona arrived in Portland // Photo: IP
"The health and safety of employees, teams, players and fans are top notch. We work in concert with the groups and consult with healthcare organizations and corona virus experts so we can continue to monitor the situation closely," the official announcement from the BBC said.
In Oregon, Portland has already been reported to be a person infected with Corona, resulting in Trail Blazers player C.J. McCollum tweeting that he "stops handing fan signatures until a new announcement" and asks his followers to maintain general hygiene:
The Corona Virus has officially hit Oregon. More specifically Lake Oswego ... Make sure y'all wash y'all hands with soap for 20 or more seconds & cover ya mouths when you cough. I am officially taking a break from signing autographs until further notice.
Sincerely,
CJ
- CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) February 29, 2020