The Boston Celtics and the wider NBA have a lot on their plate in a normal season, and world events aren’t making it any easier for anyone of late.
As the world grapples with the difficulties imposed by the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, colloquially known as the coronavirus, events like basketball games may be one of many public gatherings that could potentially postponed or canceled depending on how leagues and governments respond.
Sporting events around the world are already being put on ice for at least the time being, with the Chinese Basketball Association postponing games, and FIBA holding contests in near-empty stadiums, reports NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin.
Boston sports teams have already begun taking preventative measures, such as the Red Sox, who have been closely following Centers for Disease Control guidelines in interactions between players, staff, and business partners, reports the Boston Globe’s Bob Hohler.
The team went as far as asking minor league pitcher Chih-Jung Liu to delay reporting to spring training after he arrived from Taiwan, which has seen over 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and have taken steps to boost fan safety too.
“At Fenway Park,” Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said, “we are currently installing more public hand sanitizer dispensers near all the main gates throughout the ballpark and will be encouraging fans to frequently wash hands and use the dispensers when the regular season begins.”
Similar approaches are underway with the NHL’s Bruins and NFL’s Patriots.
The Celtics have been working closely with the NBA on the issue, and so far have deferred to the league when it comes to any official statements, according to Helin.
On the issue of coronavirus preparations, NBA spokesperson Mike Bass related that “[t]he health and safety of our employees, teams, players and fans is paramount.
“We are coordinating with our teams and consulting with the CDC and infectious disease specialists on the coronavirus, and continue to monitor the situation closely,” he continued.
As of now, there are no plans to cancel or postpone NBA games, but it is something the Celtics and the league is closely watching.
