NHL closes dressing rooms to media in effort to stem spread of coronavirus

Penguins-locker-room

The team logo is in the centre of the Pittsburgh Penguins locker room before players come in to talk to the media. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

The NHL will close locker rooms to media starting Saturday on the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus, according to Sportsnet‘s Elliotte Friedman.

Media availabilities will instead be conducted in a formal press conference space.

The NBA, MLB and MLS are expected to follow suit.

Earlier this week, the NHL issued a memo to teams urging players to limit contact with fans as another measure aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also ordered a stop on all business-related travel outside North America for league employees.

Confirmed cases of the coronavirus grew to 352 in the U.S., as of Saturday afternoon, according to the New York Times.

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