MLB
(Photo : Reuters)

Major League Baseball games that are scheduled in Mexico will be canceled due to the threat brought by the COVID-19 pandemic according to a recently published article.

Major sports leagues around the world are now in hiatus following the announcement of the World Health Organization of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Another reason that made sports league to halt are increasing number of players who tested positive for COVID-19 in some leagues.

The San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks are supposed to have their games on April 18 and 19 in Mexico. However, the MLB received a recommendation from the Center for Disease Prevention and Control and Mexican Health authorities to cancel their games.

In a statement released by MLB, they said: "Nothing is more important to us than the health and well-being of our players, employees, and fans. Let's hope to hold MLB games in front of our Mexican fans very soon."

The move of MLB to cancel its scheduled games in Mexico in April is a great way to slow down the transmission and spread of the virus that has infected more than 120,000 people and has recorded more than 14,000 deaths. 

This is just one of the measures taken by MLB to protect not only its players and essential personnel but as well as its fans. The sports league has initially suspended its games for two weeks but because of the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases, the suspension of its games may be extended until May. 

Meanwhile, Trump's administration has also announced its strict guidelines that include the restriction of mass gatherings of than 50 until his health concerns will be lifted. 

For this reason, MLB announced in its official statement that the 2020 regular season will be delayed. MLB made sure that they follow the recommendation of CDC and that the guideline that restricts the gathering of more than 50 persons for eight weeks or equivalent to two months.

Moreover, MLB assured its fans that its teams are willing to play as many games as possible as soon as the regular season comes back. Fans are also informed that they have to keep updated on the MLB 2020 regular season by visiting their website.

This is not the first time that a major American sports league suspends its season due to COVID-19. National Basketball Association has already announced the indefinite suspension of its season after a couple of players were tested positive for the virus.

Following the announcement of the NBA, MLB immediately decided to cancel all their warm-up games and the opening of its season which is scheduled on March 26.

For the safety of everyone, MLB has been in close contact with health authorities and experts and are following their recommendations before they start the season.

While waiting for the season to begin, MLB and MLB Players Association announced that they will donate $1million to fight hunger for affected individuals due to the closure of some establishments that include schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robert Manfred, MLB Commissioner, said that in this time where the country is facing a global health crisis, they need to come as one community and have to help the most vulnerable groups. He is referring not only to those who were displaced from their jobs due to closure of their establishments because of COVID-19 but also of school children who depended on the "go and grab" stations.

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