See you in May?
The United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday evening issued a new guideline that recommends no gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, a move that could have serious implications for the hopes of sports leagues being able to resume play.
The CDC's full statement can be seen below:
Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.
Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.
Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.
This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.
That eight-week timeframe runs until May 10.
If the NHL and NBA resume their seasons, the leagues would have to shorten the remainder of their seasons or run their postseasons through mid-summer. If the MLB still provides its teams the opportunity for a three-week spring training, the MLB season wouldn't begin until early June.
