All PBA teams are prohibited from holding practices for two weeks beginning Saturday, March 14, in another move to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The PBA indefinitely suspended its season effective March 11.
In a memo sent Friday and signed by commissioner Willie Marcial, the league will impose the ban on "practices, scrimmages and other related activities" until March 27.
"The Office of the Commissioner, with the approval of the PBA Board of Governors, will implement and strictly impose a two-week break from practices, scrimmages and other related activities to ALL PBA TEAMS starting tomorrow, March 14 - Saturday until March 27 - Friday," it said.
Marcial on Wednesday said teams are allowed to practice among themselves while the league calendar is suspended. The league put the hold on all practices following a Thursday declaration of a "community quarantine" in the National Capital Region upon recommendation by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, which also barred mass gatherings during the pandemic outbreak.
"Further instructions will be handed out as the league continues to assess the current situation." the memo continued. "We seek your utmost cooperation and compliance and enjoin everyone to keep safe and follow the guidelines set by our government health workers to avoid the spread of the virus."
Officially known as COVID-19, this virus is a new strain of coronavirus that has surged around the globe in recent months. The coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious respiratory diseases.
Flu is caused by a different virus. There is no vaccine yet for COVID-19, though researchers are working on one and hope to begin testing soon. Older people, especially those with chronic illnesses such as heart or lung disease, are most at risk.
The coronavirus spreads mainly through coughs and sneezes, though it also can be transferred from surfaces. The best way to prevent infection is by frequent hand-washing, cleaning surfaces with regular household sprays and wipes, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.