With the COVID-19 virus continuing to spread like wildfire throughout the world, the parent organization of the Buffalo Sabres Pegula Sports & Entertainment posted a statement on their Twitter page in the last couple of hours.
“With the COVID-19 situation continuing to unfold, we want to ensure our fans, staff and players that their safety is our top priority.
“We continue to monitor all information provided by federal, state and local health departments regarding COVID-19, and remain in contatc with all pertinent leagues.
“Together, with our food service partner, Delaware North, we are taking all necessary actions advised by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help ensure the health and safety of our guests and employees.
“We encourage all of our fans to take the proper precautions prescribed by the CDC. We will continue to make updates as necessary.”
A statement from Pegula Sports + Entertainment: pic.twitter.com/9OHMnQPpAt
— Pegula Sports & Entertainment (@PegulaSE) March 11, 2020
There has been no talk of playing NHL games behind closed-doors so far, unlike in Europe where major soccer leagues have seen their seasons suspended or still playing but with no supporters present.
Meanwhile, there has been unconfirmed reports that the state high school championships being played at KeyBank Centre are proceeding with no fans present, but that is also likely due to the presence of players from Westchester County where the majority of the 212 cases that New York State has recorded are clustered around.
COVID-19 as of today has been designated as a full-fledged pandemic, having affected 114 countries around the world and claimed over 4,000 victims. In the USA alone there have been 696 cases confirmed as of the time of publishing this piece, with 25 deaths, while a further 93 cases have been reported in Canada with 1 dead. This is the first pandemic defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) since the H1N1 “swine flu” in 2009.
There has been no other communication as of now from either Buffalo franchise the Sabres or the Bills apart from this statement posted by the parent company.
With the outbreak continuing to magnify itself, here is the WHO page on how to protect yourself from the coronavirus.