The NHL is reportedly taking a big step toward protecting its players from the growing threat of COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus.
Elliotte Friedman, a veteran reporter for Sportsnet, shared Saturday that the NHL will be closing dressing rooms to media, on the recommendation of Centers for Disease Control, in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus. He also reports that the NBA, MLB and MLS are expected to do follow this recommendation, and noted that media availabilities will be conducted in the formal press conference area.
This measure comes on the heels of the NBA sending out a memo Friday night to all 30 teams, urging them to prepare for the possibility that games will be played without fans or media in the stadiums.
The National College Players Association has also recently urged the NCAA to consider playing its March Madness games without fans in attendance due to coronavirus concerns.
A vendor who worked an XFL game at CenturyLink Field recently tested positive for coronavirus as well, which really highlights the need to consider such measures.
To date, there are more than 105,000 confirmed global cases of coronavirus, and the death toll is currently at 3,562. The United States has over 300 confirmed cases, and 17 people in America are confirmed to have died from coronavirus.