March Madness will not occur this year due to the increasing threat of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus.

In a statement Thursday, NCAA president Mark Emmert and the organization’s Board of Governors announced that the Division 1 men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships, are canceled.

“This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities,” the statement said.

The NCAA’s announcement comes as numerous basketball conferences also announce cancellations. Among them is the Pac-12 Conference, in which Stanford competes. Conference officials stated that all Pac-12 sports competitions and championship events had been canceled until further notice. The decision was made in consultation with member universities in an effort to limit the spread of the virus and in the interest of the health and safety of student-athletes and all individuals working on and attending such events.

In an email Thursday to all student-athletes, coaches and staff, Bernard Muir, the Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics, explained that all sporting activities are suspended until further notice.

“While it is possible that some athletics activities may be able to resume when in-person classes resume on campus, all competitions, practices, camps, clinics, and in-person recruiting activities are suspended until further notice,” Muir wrote.

Muir said that all student-athletes will be required to depart campus by the end of winter quarter, in accordance with the university’s guidance for all students. Exceptions will be granted only through the university’s exception process, which will not take athletics activities into account.

Muir encouraged teams to hold a final meeting to process this news together before dispersing and said Stanford Athletics would provide further updates when they become available.

“I cannot begin to express my heartfelt appreciation for your understanding during this challenging time,” he said.

Stanford is continuing the monitor the evolving situation and is providing regular updates to the campus community. For the latest information, visit healthalerts.stanford.edu.