In one of the most shocking decisions yet, the NCAA has decided not to allow fans at the men’s and women’s division I basketball tournament this month.
March Madness will have quite a different feel this year, with only “essential personnel” and “family” being allowed to attend the games.
“The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel,” a statement from NCAA President Mark Emmert read. “Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance.”
The news sent social media into a frenzy, instantly moving to the top trend and causing people to dub the beloved tournament “March Sadness.”
The World Health Organization earlier today announced the Coronavirus was now officially a pandemic, causing the markets to take another tumble and fears to generally be increased around the globe.
The head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he’s “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity.”
“We have, therefore, made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic,” he said at a briefing in Geneva. “All countries can still change the course of this pandemic. If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response.”
As the number of cases of coronavirus in the US passes 1,000, government officials, businesses, schools, and even political candidates are taking new measures to contain the virus.
In Seattle, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was set to announce a ban on gatherings of more than 250.
Some universities are going to online classes, and airlines are reducing domestic flights.
On the campaign trail, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden both canceled rallies.
New Rochelle, New York has been declared America’s first containment zone. New York Gov. Mario Cuomo called it “dramatic action” but said, “this is literally a matter of life and death.”
The containment zone is a one-mile radius from the Young Israel Synagogue, where dozens of people were exposed by a sick man.
Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases warned the rest of the nation to take precautions and “that it doesn’t matter if you’re in a state that has no cases or one case. You have to start taking seriously what you can do now.”
GET YOUR FREE FACT SHEET: Coronavirus: What You Need to Know
Vice President Mike Pence says over a million more test kits will be distributed to local areas by the end of the week. And President Trump was also urging Americans to stay calm, saying the virus “will go away.”
Stocks gained almost 5 percent on Wall Street Tuesday, as the Dow bounced back by more than 1,100 points, recovering about half of the market’s historic losses from the day before, but markets remain volatile.
President Trump is proposing a possible payroll tax cut to stimulate the economy and it’s likely the Treasury Department will extend the April 15 tax deadline to help individuals and businesses.
“We’re also going to be talking about hourly wage earners getting help so they can be in a position where they’re not ever going to miss a paycheck,” Trump said.
Economic advisor Larry Kudlow says the proposed tax cut could last through the end of the year, telling reporters, “The payroll tax holiday is a bold move. It’s a very bold move.”
But Democratic leaders came out against it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “The Administration seems to believe that the answer to any problem is another tax cut.”
Most states aren’t seeing a high number of cases like New York or California, but they’re preparing for the worst.
Continue to pray that cooler heads prevail and that people be vigilant in safety yet not afraid. For we have not been given a spirit of fear but one of power, love and self-control.
Editor’s note: CBN’s Dale Hurd contributed to this report