Virus may have US sports leagues cutting locker-room access

MIAMI (AP) — The NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer are all weighing plans to restrict access to locker rooms as a precaution to protect players from exposure to the coronavirus, as concern over the situation continued escalating Saturday.

No collective decisions have been made, according to several people involved in the talks who spoke Saturday to The Associated Press. In some cases, clubs are making their own decisions, but NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that the leagues are weighing a number of options.

“We're focused on the fact that the tightness, the crowdedness and the intimacy of postgame availability may need to be adjusted while we're focusing on the coronavirus," Bettman said in Sunrise, Florida, while appearing at the Montreal-Florida game for Roberto Luongo's jersey retirement.

Bettman added that he wouldn't be surprised if the closed locker room becomes a league-wide mandate for at least the short term “because it may be the prudent thing to do." He said it would be an “adjustment" and that no decisions would be permanent.

“A locker room is different from being in the stands," Bettman said.

The changes would not eliminate media interviews with players before and after games but would simply move them to a different location, possibly a news conference setting. The changes would be designed to limit locker-room access solely to players and essential team personnel, which in theory would allow teams to know if anyone in those areas has been tested for illness.

“In consultation with infectious disease and public health experts, we're discussing with other sports leagues options to protect the health of everyone in our buildings, including those typically in our locker rooms," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. “As always, we're committed to providing appropriate...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/AP-sources-Virus-may-see-leagues-cutting-15113676.php