The entire world is dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak and it has led to one country making a big decision when it comes to their sporting events. On Wednesday, it was announced Italy is banning fans from attending games. Teams can still play, but they will play in front of an empty stadium for one month.
“Official: new COVID decree measures here in Italy,” sports reporter Fabrizio Romano wrote on Twitter. “All sports events – also Serie A – can only be done behind closed doors for 30 days. No more fans in the stadiums. The measures will be effective until April 3.”
Videos by PopCulture.com
When it comes to coronavirus, Italy has been hit the worst. According to Aljazeera.com, 41 new deaths were reported in the country and the death toll is now at 148. It’s the second-most deaths in the world behind China, the country to first report Coronavirus at the end of last year. The virus has hit all 22 regions of Italy, which has led to the country producing an $8.4 billion rescue plan.
As for the U.S., there are no plans to ban fans from sporting events, but that doesn’t mean the sports leagues aren’t paying attention to what’s going on everywhere else. The NFL recently announced it’s “closely monitoring” the situation.
“We are closely monitoring developments and have been in contact with The World Health Organization, CDC and the NFL-NFLPA medical experts at the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON) Program for Infection Prevention,” the statement read per NFL.com. “We will continue those discussions throughout our offseason.”
The next big event for the NFL is the draft which will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25. The regular season doesn’t begin until September.
There are over 100 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. with 11 deaths. The New York Times recently announced the symptoms of the disease and what should you do if you feel sick.
“Symptoms of the infection include fever, cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal problems or diarrhea,” The New York Times wrote. “Serious cases cause lung lesions and pneumonia. But milder cases may resemble the flu or a cold, making detection difficult.”
“If you think you’re sick, stay home, except to get medical care. If you have symptoms, the C.D.C recommends that you call a medical professional if you have recently been in an area with a coronavirus outbreak, or have had close contact with someone who has been to such an area.”
Most Viewed
-
(Photo by Ben Curtis – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) -
US singer Miley Cyrus attends the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 2, 2025. (Photo by Angeka Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) -
A ring of vibrant marigold flowers with glowing candles at the center, set against a dark background. (Credit: Eduardo Monroy Husillos / Getty Images) -
Antique TV set with color bars, on black background. 3D rendering -
NEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 19: "Toil and Trouble" – Elsbeth is thrown into the world of television after the showrunner of a long-running police procedural is brutally murdered in his office, and although it appears to be the act of a disgruntled fan, she begins to suspect the show's longtime star Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf) who yearns for artistic fulfillment. Meanwhile, Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) continues to be a thorn in Elsbeth's side, on the CBS original series ELSBETH, Thursday, Dec. 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Carra Patterson as Kaya Blanke. (Photo by Michael Parmelee/CBS via Getty Images)
