Even if COVID-19 has not yet spread throughout the U.S., concern about what is better known as coronavirus has. And it is beginning to have an effect on the sports world.

The NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball to varying degrees all have announced they are monitoring the threatened pandemic, and the NCAA is being urged to consider modifications to its popular basketball tournament.

“We are closely monitoring developments and have been in contact with The World Health Organization, CDC and the NFL-NFLPA medical experts at the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON) Program for Infection Prevention,” NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy said in an email to the Tribune-Review. “We will continue those discussions throughout our offseason.”

The NFL doesn’t have to worry about large-scale gatherings of people until August when its preseason begins, although the league’s draft has become an increasingly popular spectator event in recent years. This year’s event is April 23-25 in Las Vegas.

The NHL is the only professional league currently playing that has a team based in Pittsburgh. Tuesday, an opponent that crossed an international border, the Ottawa Senators, was in town at PPG Paints Arena to play against the Penguins.

ESPN reported Monday the NHL is not ruling out seemingly dire options such as canceling games or playing games in empty arenas should coronavirus become a more significant health threat in North America.

“I think it’s very unlikely — knock on wood, I’m hopeful — that we would progress to a stage where we have to consider something that dramatic,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said, according to ESPN. “But certainly everything is possible, and we have to look at all possible contingencies. If it gets to that point, we will be ready.”

The one likely concession Daly did acknowledge was the NHL probably won’t stage preseason games in China next season, as had been previously discussed. The coronavirus outbreak originated in Hubei, China, and that nation has by far experienced the most casualties so far.

The Associated Press reported earlier this week that no U.S.-based leagues have any plans to cancel or postpone games, even in the wake of the news Saturday that a man in his 50s died in Washington state as a result of contracting COVID-19.

“The health and safety of our employees, teams, players and fans is paramount,” the NBA said in a statement released to the AP. “We are coordinating with our teams and consulting with the CDC and infectious disease specialists on the coronavirus and continue to monitor the situation closely.”

CNBC reported that the NBA sent a memo to teams encouraging players to avoid high-fiving and fistbumps with fans and to decline using fans’ pens for autographs.

A post to the verified Twitter account of Portland Trail Blazers star guard C.J. McCollum urged fans to wash hands in light of news that the virus had been reported in Oregon. He also said he was “taking a break” from signing autographs for fans.

CJ McCollum tweet

MLB also has been actively monitoring the outbreak for some time and been in touch with the CDC and Health and Human Services. It is providing guidance to clubs, staff members and players that mirror CDC recommendations.

The Pittsburgh Pirates released an advisory Monday for fans attending spring training activities in Bradenton, Fla., after an adult in neighboring Sarasota tested “presumptively positive.”

March Madness begins in two weeks, and a student athlete advocacy group released a statement requesting that the NCAA takes steps to protect players.

“In regard to the NCAA’s March Madness Tournament and other athletic events, there should be a serious discussion about holding competitions without an audience present,” read part of the statement from the National College Players Association.

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