Canceled: Napa 'Battle Of The Valley' Charity Basketball Game

NAPA, CA— The sixth annual Battle of the Valley charity basketball tournament was slated for later this month but has been canceled, the county of Napa announced Wednesday.

"The decision was made in light of recent state and local decisions and declarations calling for the cancellation of large public events in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic," Napa County Spokesperson Noel Brinkerhoff said.

The game, which is more of tournament between three teams — the county, the city of Napa and the city of American Canyon — was scheduled for March 26.

There is usually a suggested donation of $10 for the game, with the proceeds donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Napa Valley.

The game may be rescheduled for a later date; its depends on future COVID-19 developments, Brinkerhoff said.

No tickets have been sold yet, so organizers do not have to worry about issuing refunds.

To date, Napa County has not announced any residents testing positive for the new coronavirus. One COVID-19 patient was treated at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa County. The patient was not a resident of the county; they were among a group of Americans exposed to the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, and evacuated to Travis Air Force Base where they tested positive.

Statewide, at least two people have died from the new coronavirus, and 198 people have tested positive for COVID-19— including 21 from Wednesday — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday in a late-morning briefing at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

An executive order signed Thursday by the governor waives a one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed or disabled as a result of the virus, which is also known as COVID-19, readies the state to commandeer property for use in treating, quarantining or isolating people, and allows legislative bodies to hold meetings electronically, among other policies.

The California Department of Public Health published guidelines March 7 surrounding large events and its recommendation for canceling and/or postponing gatherings.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.