COLUMBUS, Ohio — UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: The National Hockey League has suspended its season, the league announced.

The Penguins were scheduled to play the Blue Jackets tonight in Columbus, but now there’s no timeframe if or when the game and the rest of the season will take place. As it stands, Pittsburgh is in 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division with 13 regular season games remaining.

“Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

The league had already cancelled morning skates and practices Thursday, and they told teams to start working with their buildings to find dates to host games into July.

Because NHL locker rooms are filled with hot and sweaty equipment, every year teams have flu bugs run through their team. There have also been more serious instances of contagious illness in the past, such as when the mumps went around in 2014 and Penguins star Sidney Crosby contracted it.

ORIGINAL, March 11: There will be no fans in attendance for Thursday’s NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Admission will be limited to home and visit club personnel, credentialed media and broadcast partners, essential club and arena staff and NHL officials. The games will be closed to the public.

The health and well-being of the community is their priority, a spokesperson for the team said in a statement, and they appreciate the understanding of fans, corporate partners and guests.

The change was made following an announcement by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine that an order prohibiting mass gatherings in the state was forthcoming.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Sunday’s game against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena will continue as scheduled, according to a team spokesperson.

There have been a number of safety procedures implemented, a team spokesperson said, including food handlers, ticket takers and ushers wearing gloves. Other new measures include:

• Regular cleaning of escalator handrails, stairway railings, door handles and elevator buttons with disinfectant
• Regular cleaning and sanitizing of arena public areas and rest rooms
• Reconfiguration of common food-serving areas and services
• CDC advisory signs posted in rest rooms, advising fans of safety recommendations for washing hands, etc.
• Hand sanitizer placed around the arena

Guests who are feeling sick or who have traveled to high risk areas are urged to not attend the games.

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