Capitals Play Waiting Game As Coronavirus Sidelines Other Events

WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Capitals are waiting to make a decision on whether to play their scheduled home game against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday nigth at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., the team said late Wednesday night. The D.C. Department of Health is recommending that all events and gatherings of people over 1,000 in size be postponed or cancelled due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

The Washington Wizards will not be playing any games in the near future at Capital One Arena. The NBA announced Wednesday night that it has suspended its season "until further notice" after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus.

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Capitals and Wizards, said Wednesday it is aware of the Department of Health's recommendation. Based on current guidance from the NHL, though, the company said earlier on Wednesday that the Capitals games "will go on as scheduled and be open to spectators."

Monumental Sports & Entertainment said dispensers of alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be placed around Capital One Arena in convenient locations.

Across Virginia, D.C. and Maryland, there are now 33 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The disease first emerged in Wuhan, China, late last year and has now infected more than 100,000 people around the globe and killed 4,590. The World Health Organization announced Wednesday it now considers the global outbreak a "pandemic."

The Washington Nationals, who are in Florida for spring training, on Wednesday announced that the team’s annual fundraising gala scheduled for later this month has been postponed in response to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.

“In the best interest of the health and safety of our Washington Nationals players, valued donors and committed fans, we have decided to postpone the Nationals Homecoming Gala at The Anthem at District Wharf scheduled for March 23,” the team said in a statement.

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The Nationals said they have not made a decision yet on whether the exhibition game at Nationals Park in D.C. on March 26 will take place as scheduled.

While the Capitals still intend to play games with spectators, the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer have closed access to locker rooms and clubhouses to all nonessential personnel, including media, in response to the coronavirus crisis, the leagues announced in a joint statement Monday night.

The leagues said they made the decision “after consultation with infectious disease and public health experts.”

“Given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice," the leagues said. "Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting.”

In the wake of the D.C. Health Department's recommendation, Events DC, which handles many of the big conventions and meeting in the District, announced it was suspending its operations and services from the end of business on Friday, March 13 until Tuesday, March 31.

Earlier Wednesday, the organizers of the 2020 St. Patrick's Parade, which was scheduled to march down Constitution Avenue on Sunday for the 50th year in a row, postponed the parade for an unnamed future date.

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Monumental Sports & Entertainment encourages fans who plan to attend the Capitals game Thursday night, if it isn't canceled or postponed, to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their state or local health authorities, including staying home if they are feeling sick. Based on guidance from the CDC, individuals in vulnerable populations should avoid crowds as much as possible.

For fans attending the Capitals game, the team instructed them to follow CDC recommendations, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Dispensers are placed around Capital One Arena in convenient locations.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and clean your hands.
• If you begin to feel ill, including with fever, cough or shortness of breath, spectators should leave the event. If you are not able to leave the event, you should seek assistance from guest services.

The Capitals also are asking people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are otherwise at risk due to potential exposure to COVID-19 to follow CDC guidelines by refraining from attending games at Capital One Arena or other community events.

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