As of right now, this week’s SEC men’s basketball tournament in Nashville is expected to go on as scheduled, but the conference is taking some health precautions at host site Bridgestone Arena due to coronavirus concerns. The conference announced those precautions Monday via the SEC’s official website:

  • Additional hand sanitizers will be present at arena entrances and throughout concourse and in meeting rooms;
  • Use of hospital grade disinfectant to sanitize locker rooms before teams arrive and upon departure;
  • Sanitization of game balls with hospital grade disinfectant after each practice and game;
  • Sanitization of team benches plus band and cheerleader seating areas following each game;
  • Hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes and Lysol spray in team locker rooms;
  • Hand sanitizers at scorer’s table, in officials’ locker rooms and operations offices;
  • Signage throughout concourse to provide CDC preventive action recommendations

The conference shares that it has consulted with local authorities in Nashville:

The SEC continues to monitor developments associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and has not modified the schedule of events related to our men’s basketball tournament in Nashville. At this time our focus and expectation is to play the tournament as scheduled. Local authorities have confirmed this approach is consistent with current public health recommendations. We remain alert to any circumstances that could warrant adjustments for the health and well-being of our student-athletes, fans and other participants. We are in continued communication with public health officials and remind everyone to be attentive to everyday preventive actions identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).

The conference notes that many of the health precautions were used at the women’s tournament in Greenville last week and similar measures will be implemented at the SEC Gymnastics Championship March 21 in Duluth, Georgia.