10:33 a.m.
The plan is for Gold Medal basketball to carry on as scheduled, said Juneau Lions Club members Thursday morning.
President Edward Hotch, Treasurer Janice Hotch and member Eunice James said in a phone interview that they’re monitoring COVID-19 news, but the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament is not canceled.
“We met last night as a club, and we have decided as a club to continue holding Gold Medal,” Janice Hotch said.
The tournament is scheduled for March 22-28 in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé gym.
Janice Hotch said they are aware COVID-19 has an incubation period of up to two weeks, and tournament organizers will continue to pay attention to guidelines for public health.
She said the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services guidelines do not advise canceling mass gatherings.
“No one is telling us to cancel anything,” Janice Hotch said. “They are just saying be mindful. Be careful.
There are not yet confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state, and Hotch said visitors to Juneau will almost entirely be traveling in-state.
“The only out of state folks that come to the tournament are referees,” Janice Hotch said.
Edward Hotch said tournament organizers had reached out to members of teams scheduled to play in the tournament, and they were in support of not canceling the event.
“We’ve contacted a lot of teams, and they all want to move forward,” Edward Hotch said.
— Ben Hohenstatt
8:45 a.m.
A major cruise line announced Thursday it is voluntarily pausing global ship operations for 60 days in light of the global spread of COVID-19.
In a statement posted to its website, Princess Cruises said the decision will affect its 18 cruise ships and impact voyages departing between March 12 and May 10.
Princess ships are a significant portion of the vessels that berth in Juneau and Southeast Alaska, and a privately owned dock on South Franklin Street provides shore power to Princess ships.
It is not yet clear if other cruise lines will be taking similar action.
Wednesday, the Port of Seattle announced it would be canceling some of the first cruises of the season.
This is an evolving story, and this will be updated as more is known.
