Officials at Johns Hopkins University have decided to ban fans from attending the first and second rounds of the Division III men's basketball tournament at Goldfarb Gymnasium in Baltimore, Maryland, this weekend after three people in the state were diagnosed with COVID-19.
"In light of Maryland's recently confirmed cases of COVID-19, and based on CDC guidance for large gatherings, we have determined that it is prudent to hold this tournament without spectators," the university said in a statement. "We are not making any determination about other JHU events at this time; while we await further guidance from public health authorities, we will be assessing large events on a case-by-case basis. We regret any inconvenience to the families and fans of the players."
The games will still go on, but only staff and players will be allowed into the gymnasium. The school said they will give refunds to everybody who purchased tickets.The games will be streamed on the university's online TV network, HopTV.
The Yeshiva University basketball team was forced to find another hotel after their reservations were canceled following reports that the son of a New York man who was diagnosed with COVID-19, attended the school.
The school said that health officials cleared all the players and that the student has not been on campus since February 26.
Johns Hopkins University isn't the only school to take precautions as the viral outbreak spreads across the country. Stanford has instituted attendance limits at ten venues as a precautionary measure. Stanford said the attendance limits will last until at least April 15.
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