This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
On March 11, 2020, the National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended its season indefinitely due to the rapidly spreading Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision came after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the virus, prompting the league to take action to protect its players, staff, and fans.
"The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice," the league said in a statement.
The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.
Other sports organizations, including the National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), also took measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.
The NHL announced it would update the status of its season on March 12, 2020, while the MLS and NCAA took steps to limit fan attendance at games.
"I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance," NCAA president Mark Emmert said.
Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a US Congressional panel that the agency believed any large gatherings of people represented a risk of Covid-19 spreading.
