Rutgers athletics released a statement Wednesday morning with its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Here is the statement in full:
“As everyone across the world continues to deal with the impact of COVID-19, the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and staff is our primary concern. We continue to seek advice so we can observe best practices and directives as set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New Jersey Department of Health. Rutgers Athletics is taking the following steps beginning on Thursday, March 12, and proceeding through at least Friday, April 3.”
- All Rutgers University Athletics home competitions will take place as scheduled without spectators. Credentialed media will be accommodated.
- All third-party competitions or events scheduled to take place at Rutgers University Athletics facilities have been cancelled. The sponsoring entities have the discretion to place these events at alternative venues.
- All international travel is prohibited. Essential domestic travel for teams, coaches and staff is permissible
- Team practices will take place as scheduled without the presence of spectators or non-essential personnel.
LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATES FROM NJ.COM
All single game ticket purchases, as well as third party ticketed events, will be refunded by the Rutgers Athletics Ticket Office. The Ticket Office will be contacting all accounts that purchased tickets once refunds are processed."
Introducing Rutgers Sports Insider: Sign up for exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers
The Rutgers football team begins its 15-practice spring camp on March 24. There is no change expected to that schedule, NJ Advance Media’s Keith Sargeant reported on Rutgers Sports Insider on Tuesday.
The Rutgers basketball program opens its Big Ten Tournament campaign on Thursday afternoon against Michigan at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. As of 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, there have been 10 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state of Indiana, but the tournament remains on schedule.
The sport most affected by this is men’s lacrosse, which regularly topples 2,000 fans in attendance at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights host No. 1 Syracuse on Saturday.
Rutgers University cancelled classes on Thursday and Friday and moved all instruction online when students return from spring break March 23, an unprecedented response to the coronavirus outbreak from the state university.
Get Rutgers Sports Insider text messages from reporters: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with the Rutgers beat writers. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.
If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.
Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @briannnnf. Find NJ.com on Facebook.