Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday announced a ban on gatherings and events of more than 250 people in virtually the entire Seattle metro area to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The ban includes sporting events and concerts.
The Seattle Dragons were scheduled to host the Los Angeles Wildcats in an XFL game Sunday at CenturyLink Field. The Seattle Mariners, who were scheduled to open their MLB season at home against the Texas Rangers on March 26, will move home games from Seattle through end of March. The Seattle Sounders of MLS aren’t home until March 21.
It wasn’t immediately clear how long the order would last or if it would extend to other parts of the state. Spokane was scheduled to host the first and second rounds of the 2020 NCAA men’s basketball tournament on March 19 and March 21.
It’s also unknown how teams would handle the reported ban. Options could include playing elsewhere, postponing games or playing in front of limited audiences.
The order would not prohibit the operation of workplaces and was not expected to include school closures, The Associated Press reported.
At least 24 people in Washington have died from the coronavirus, most of them in the Seattle metro area.
Late last month, Inslee declared a state of emergency over the virus outbreak. There are more than 260 confirmed cases in the state, most of them in the King, Pierce and Snohomish counties that would be affected by Inslee’s order.