Todd Shanesy and Jed Blackwell

Spartanburg Herald-Journal

With the number of coronavirus cases in the United States and increased danger on the rise, the Southern Conference is taking precautionary steps for the basketball tournaments this week in Asheville, N.C.

The event, featuring both men's and women's championships, begins Thursday and continues through Monday at Harrah’s Cherokee Center, formerly the U.S. Cellular Center.

The deadly COVID-19 coronavirus has killed more than 3,000 people worldwide and there are now more than 100 cases in 15 states, including as close as Georgia.

“We’re taking the coronavirus and it implications very seriously,” Southern Conference Commissioner Jim Schaus said. “The overall well-being of our teams and our fans will always be paramount at any of our championships. ...We believe it’s going to be a safe environment for our fans to come and enjoy the tournament. At the same time, we are very mindful of the seriousness of this and the concerns that people may have.”

Schaus said the conference is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local health officials, facilities management and the schools themselves.

“We’ve developed a plan and put it in action,” he said. “We’ve placed educational information about the coronavirus in standing areas. We’ve increased the number of hand sanitizers in the facility for fan and team areas. We’re making sure those locker rooms are in great shape before teams go in there.

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“We are in communication with the teams through coaches and basketball operations folks to be on the alert for anyone who has flu-like symptoms. Basically, we’re telling people to avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw it away. Don’t re-use it and avoid it touching your face. Sanitize your hands regularly for a long period of time. And if you are sick, please stay home.”

The National College Players Association, a non-profit group that advocates safety of college athletes, asked the NCAA last weekend to consider holding tournament games without fans because of concern about the coronavirus.

“In the wake of the emerging coronavirus pandemic,” the group said in a written statement, “the NCAA and its colleges should take precautions to protect college athletes. 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.”

The NCAA, on its official website, posted a guideline for dealing with safety issues regarding the coronavirus.

More:SEC keeping eye on coronavirus ahead of women's basketball tournament

“As they would when confronting any public health crisis,” the statement reads, “championships staff will add appropriate safeguards in coordination with campus and local health response teams to address concerns about the virus. … Member schools have the primary responsibility for ensuring that actionable plans are in place to guide the local response to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 among school personnel or a related exposure to the virus at an on-campus event. Athletics personnel should reach out to campus health care leaders at their respective school to safeguard the well-being of student-athletes, employees and fans attending athletics events.”

SCHSL preparing recommendations

The South Carolina High School League, meanwhile, is preparing for its largest indoor gathering of the year, the state basketball championships. Twenty teams and thousands of fans are projected to attend this weekend’s games at Columbia’s Colonial Life Arena, and League Commissioner Jerome Singleton said personnel are keeping an eye on the virus as preparations for the event are being made.

“We’ve been following it,” he said. “We recognize that no cases have yet been reported in South Carolina, and we’re addressing things based on information we’ve received from DHEC. We’re telling folks that if you feel sick, don’t come. Let your symptoms dictate that decision. Make sure you wash your hands, cover your sneezes, cover your coughs. A lot of the symptoms are the same type symptoms as the flu, and the same precautions are necessary.

More:Here's what SC schools are doing to prepare in case of coronavirus outbreak

“We’re making sure that arena staff will be keeping the hygiene areas as clean as possible. We’ve asked that there are measures available for people to clean their hands at the concession areas. We’re looking at some recommendations to put together to send to our member schools and to put on our website, just something to make people aware of precautions they can take to help keep themselves and others healthy.”

Local schools playing in the state championships are conducting their preparations in much the same manner.

“There’s not really an extra concern,” High Point Academy Director of Communications Kevin Mason said. “Our in-house medical personnel are recommending that our students take the same precautions that they do to prevent the spread of flu. While we’re aware of it, there’s not a concern about not going, about putting the team on the bus and traveling down to the game.”

Dorman athletic director Flynn Harrell said the Cavaliers realize that there could be a concern this weekend, but are also looking further down the road.

“I believe the High School League will issue some form of statement later this week,” he said. “We haven’t had a case in South Carolina yet, so maybe the serious concern isn’t quite there yet. But we’re thinking ahead and keeping an eye on the GEICO Nationals (in New York City). When you’re talking about eight teams from all over the country playing in the crossroads of the world, who knows what the situation will be. That’s four weeks away, and a lot can happen between now and then.”

ACC monitoring situation

The Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tournament is scheduled to begin next Tuesday (March 10) in Greensboro, N.C. League officials said in a statement Tuesday they are continuing to monitor the situation.

“The Atlantic Coast Conference continues to prepare for the upcoming ACC and NCAA Tournaments scheduled to be held at the Greensboro Coliseum,” the statement read. “As part of the preparations, we remain in communication with our institutions, local and state health authorities and the NCAA. We will also continue following the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”