The NBA suspended all basketball games starting today after a player for the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus. The league said play would be suspended until further notice.

The test result was reported shortly before tipoff of last night’s game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City. The game was canceled immediately.

The affected player was not in the arena at the time of cancellation. The NBA also announced that it would use the hiatus to determine its next steps.

The coronavirus concern also hit college basketball as well. The NCAA announced yesterday March Madness will go on as planned, but fans won’t be allowed to attend because of concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. Only essential staff members and family members can attend, the NCAA said in its statement, which came just hours after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the coronavirus, known as Covid-19, a pandemic.

“This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. “We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families.”

With the tournament less than a week away, the NCAA had been looking into alternative plans to keep the disease from spreading at its games.

The tournament is scheduled to begin March 17, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio.

The SEC tournament has been cancelled because of the coronavirus concerns.

As far as the high school basketball state championship in Tennessee, the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) released a statement last night following the conclusion of the final game of the day that it planned to reexamine the tournament after today’s quarterfinals.

A decision would have to come quick after the quarterfinals. The Stone Memorial Lady Panthers are scheduled to play Whitehaven Friday (March 13, 2020) at 10 a.m. in the final four at MTSU. The Clarkrange Lady Buffaloes and Pickett County Lady Bobcats are in the tournament as well and play today (Thursday, March 12, 2020).

The decision came after MTSU (where the tournament is being held) officials released a statement extending the school’s spring break through March 22, along with moving to online courses beginning March 23. The university’s move was because of the concern over COVID-19.

As of now (8 a.m. Thursday, March 12, 2020) all games scheduled in the tournament will proceed as scheduled but that is subject to change after this evening.