Coronavirus: RIIL Makes Tournament Fan Restrictions Official

As the Rhode Island Interscholastic League pushed forward to finish out the indoor high school sports seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic it announced on Thursday that only players, coaches and essential personnel will be allowed at tournament games at the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College. No spectators will be allowed at the games.

The RIIL had said on Wednesday that no final decision on spectators had been made, but schools began informing their communities of fan restrictions Wednesday night. On Thursday, the RIIL said that schools would be notified which personnel would be considered essential.

The Boys Elite quarterfinal basketball games have been moved to Rhode Island College on Saturday. The start times of girls games will be adjusted slightly to allow for the increase in games. All hockey final and semifinal games will be played at URI. The RIIL will comply with all URI guidelines, including that no spectators will be allowed to attend and that only essential personnel will be admitted.

Every effort will be made to livestream games on the NFHS network.

"During these difficult times, the RIIL is committed to allowing teams to finish out their seasons," the RIIL said in a statement. "Our students have worked very hard and we owe this to them. Unfortunately, because of the guidelines specified by the governor, Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department of Education to the escalating health issue, the league cannot allow spectators to attend. Our fans and community support are an essential part of the high school experience, however, in light of the recommendations and the conditions existing in our country, we ask for everyone's patience, cooperation and understanding."

The Ivy League and New England Small College Athletic Conference both on Wednesday announced the cancellation of the entire spring season for all athletic teams. Many sports such as lacrosse were already well into their respective seasons.

The NCAA announced late Wednesday afternoon that it will not allow fans at any of its upcoming championship events — including the Division 1 men's and women's basketball tournaments often referred to as "March Madness" — and that while "we recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families" the NCAA said it is conducting the championships "consistent with current information."

(More on the coronavirus can be found in this fact sheet from the CDC.)

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to other that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

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