Johns Hopkins to Host NCAA Basketball Games Without Fans Due to Coronavirus

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD will host Division III NCAA Basketball Tournament games on its campus Friday and Saturday without spectators due to confirmed CO-VID19 (coronavirus) cases in Maryland, CBS reported Friday.

“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,” Johns Hopkins said. “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.”

The scheduled games will be played between Yeshiva and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Penn State Harrisburg and Johns Hopkins.

Earlier this week, the NCAA formed an advisory panel to guide its response to the outbreak. Specifically, with Division I March Madness kicking into high gear, the organization has said it is considering hosting those major games without spectators.

In terms of NCAA swimming outlook, there have been three confirmed cases in Georgia, where the Divison I women’s meet is scheduled to be held starting March 18, and one in Indianapolis, where the men will compete. There haven’t been any reported cases in Ohio (where DII will compete) and North Carolina (where DIII will compete).

Johns Hopkins is not the first institution to proactively make changes because of the outbreak. Chicago State forfeited its games against Seattle University and Utah Valley, as there have now been 75 confirmed cases in Seattle.

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moddiddle
4 years ago

And it looks like D1 men and women’s tournament is now without fans as well

Ddb
4 years ago

When Johns Hopkins is afraid of the virus…that doesn’t bode well

Right Dude Here
4 years ago

The scope of the fear mongering is impressive,

But how many people are buying it is absolutely stunning.

Doconc
Reply to  Right Dude Here
4 years ago

U mean, like, scientists and doctors and public health experts? Yeah- all dumb

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Doconc
4 years ago

No kidding. The ignorance on this issue is what’s going to get a lot of people very sick, if not dead. The concern isn’t that healthy college athletes or their healthy, relatively affluent (with access to health care) parents are going to die, it’s that they’ll spread it to people who are far more vulnerable (and that’s a LOT of people). Wish people would take a look at the Johns Hopkins real-time map of confirmed cases to see it’s going everywhere, and as testing increases, case numbers are going to explode. National medical and scientific meetings are being canceled. But I guess their idiots.

Horns up
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

OK I understand what you’re saying and it makes sense to an extent. However unless you’re going to shut down everything and I mean everything having sporting events without fans makes zero sense to me. I spent all weekend in crowded restaurants touching m surfaces like tables and cups that were touched by other people let’s think about it public transportation? Buses? Hotels? Unless you’re going to shut down all of these things What are you actually accomplishing by just focusing on major events like sporting events and conferences? It doesn’t seem logical to me.

JHS
4 years ago

So so so so so so stupid

JCS
Reply to  JHS
4 years ago

Interesting how they are not doing the same thing for the lacrosse game against Syracuse on Saturday.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  JCS
4 years ago

Indoors vs outdoors, thousands vs. hundreds of people. Makes a difference.

Ol Crab
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

You’ve obviously never been to a JHU lacrosse game. There will be more people at that game by far than would have gone to a division III BB game.

About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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