CALIFORNIA (AP) – Kinansela ang BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, nakatakda sanang magbukas ngayong weekdays, matapos makumpirma na may kaso ng coronavirus sa kalapit na Coachella Valley.

Nitong Linggo, idineklara ng Riverside County Public Health Department ang ‘public health emergency’ sa kabuuan ng lungsod may 110 miles east sa Los Angeles, kabilang ang Indian Wells kung saan nakatakda sanang ganapin ang ATP at WTA tours simula sa Miyerkoles.

“There is too great a risk, at this time, to the public health of the Riverside County area in holding a large gathering of this size,” pahayag ni Dr. David Agus, professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California. “It is not in the public interest of fans, players and neighboring areas for this tournament to proceed. We all have to join together to protect the community from the coronavirus outbreak.”

Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, chair ng Coordination Commission ng Brisbane 2032

Taon-taon, dinadagsa ngmay 450,000 tennis fans ang torne na tinatampukan ng mga pinakasikat na players sa tennis tulad nina Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka at Coco Gauff.

Sinabi ni tournament director Tommy Haas na handa ang organizers na isagawa ang torneo sa ibang petsa at sinabing ang desisyon ay batay sa ‘guidance of medical professionals’.