Fansided

Twitter reacts to the NHL suspending its season due to coronavirus

By Mary Clarke

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 02: Fans hold signs as Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena on February 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 02: Fans hold signs as Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena on February 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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The NHL has officially suspended the 2019-20 season temporarially due to coronavirus concerns.

On Thursday, the NHL officially put the 2019-20 season on pause indefinitely due to the growing concern over coronavirus. The decision was made less than 24 hours after the NBA suspended their season indefinitely after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus on Wednesday night.

The MLS also suspended their season on Thursday, and the MLB is not far behind in that regard either.

Hockey fans — and sports fans — have taken to Twitter over the last few days as cancellations and temporary suspensions have rolled in across sports and entertainment. The season hiatus for the NHL is not a surprise, given how the NBA and the MLS reacted within the last day, but hockey fans were nevertheless bummed about the lost time.

As of now, there is no word on when the NHL would resume play, though reports from insiders suggest that the league is looking at — optimistically — trying to resume play within two to three weeks, if possible. However, reports have also suggested the NHL could very well be playing into July thanks to the delays experienced this spring.

Hockey fans, in the meantime, have to come to terms with the sport’s absence for the next few weeks, at a minimum.

The coronavirus first emerged in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China. To date, more than 90,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide, with the virus being identified in more than 70 countries, including the United States. The virus spreads similarly to influenza, with sneezing and coughing as the primary vectors of infection.

On Jan. 30, the World Health Organization declared the virus a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” In order to contain the spread of the virus, countries around the world have implemented travel bans, curfews and quarantines.

Next. How is the coronavirus affecting sports?. dark

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.

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