Ivy League becomes the first NCAA Division I conference to cancel winter sports as new coronavirus cases spike 70 percent in two weeks across the US

The Ivy League became the first Division I conference this year to cancel all winter sports, including men's and women's basketball, as the ongoing pandemic continues to threaten college athletics.  

The decision Thursday came 13 days before the scheduled start of the college basketball season. 

The league had decided this past summer, when it canceled fall sports, not to allow any of its sports to start play before early December.

In this March 23, 2019, file photo, Kentucky's Maci Morris (4) guars Princeton's Gabrielle Rush during the second half of a first-round game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina. Princeton and the other Ivy League basketball teams will not be in action this year after the conference cancelled its winter sports season 

Harvard University Crimson forward Nick Abruzzese (16) carries the puck during the Beanpot consolation game between the Harvard Crimson and the Boston College Eagles on February 10, 2020. The Beanpot Tournament will likely not be played in 2021 due to the pandemic 

'Regrettably, the current trends regarding transmission of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent protocols that must be put in place are impeding our strong desire to return to intercollegiate athletics competition in a safe manner,' the Ivy League presidents said in a joint statement. 

'Student-athletes, their families and coaches are again being asked to make enormous sacrifices for the good of public health - and we do not make this decision lightly.

'While these decisions come with great disappointment and frustration, our commitment to the safety and lasting health of our student-athletes and wider communities must remain our highest priority.'

Yale's Eze Dike goes for a slam during a college basketball game against the against the Howard Bison at Burr Gymnasium on January 20, 2020 in Washington

Coaches and athletes were informed of the news on video conference calls Thursday evening.

The news comes as the coronavirus cases are soaring across the US. Newly confirmed cases per day in the US have rocketed more than 70 percent over the past two weeks, reaching an average of about 127,000 - the highest on record. And the number of people hospitalized with the virus hit an all-time high of more than 65,000.

Deaths per day in the US have soared more than 40 percent over the past two weeks, from an average of about 790 to more than 1,100 as of Wednesday, the highest level in three months. That's still well below the peak of about 2,200 deaths per day in late April,

The Ivy League has tried to be in front of the virus. The league was the first conference to scrap its postseason basketball tournament last March. That preceded a cascade of cancellations. All major college and professional sports were halted within days.

The Ivy League announcement affects not just basketball, but wrestling, indoor track and field, swimming, fencing and other sports. The league also said that spring sports are postponed through at least the end of February 2021.   

Meanwhile Connecticut men's basketball coach Dan Hurley is considering delaying the start of his team's season after a player's positive coronavirus test last week forced the program to suspend all activities for two weeks.

Hurley said Thursday that he hopes the team will be able to get back to practice on November 19 and play its first games on November 25 and November 27.

But contracts for those games have not been signed. Hurley said ramping up practice after two weeks off will be difficult and he won't put his team's health in jeopardy to open the season this month.

Princeton Tigers guard Julia Cunningham (24) moves the ball during the Ivy League college basketball game between the Harvard Crimson and Princeton Tigers on February 21 at Jadwin Gymnasium

'Missing two weeks of practice takes weeks to recover from,' Hurley said. 'We're very concerned about the welfare of our guys upon returning, how hard to push them in practice, do we need to adjust our non-conference schedule based on where we are at right now.'

UConn has not identified who tested positive for the coronavirus and Hurley would not go into specifics about the testing of the team and the current health of players.

Players currently are allowed to work out in the team's practice facility alone or with a roommate but with restrictions such as using just one basketball.

UConn is scheduled to play in the Legend's Classic during the first week of December at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. But Hurley said his priority is making sure the team can play its Big East Conference season. The Huskies are scheduled to return to the league after seven years in the American Athletic Conference when they host St. John's on December 11.

Hurley said he's hoping the program can better control the virus threat once students leave campus later this month and the players are in more of a 'bubble' environment. UConn will switch to remote learning for the remainder of the semester once the Thanksgiving break is over.

'We've got to make decisions with scheduling based on what's in the best interest of our players and their welfare physically,' he said. 'I think everything is on the table for us right now.' 

UConn Huskies guard Christian Vital (1) and UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley discusses a play during the game as the Cincinnati Bearcats take on the UConn Huskies on February 9, 2020, at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut. Hurley said he's hoping the program can better control the virus threat once students leave campus later this month and the players are in more of a 'bubble' environment. UConn will switch to remote learning for the remainder of the semester once the Thanksgiving break is over

Also Thursday, Pittsburgh's football game at Georgia Tech was postponed after the Panthers were forced to pause team activities due to COVID-19 protocols.

The Atlantic Coast Conference said both teams were having COVID-19 issues and the game slated for Saturday will instead be played December 12.

Also, Conference USA announced Rice at Louisiana Tech scheduled for Saturday had been postponed because of COVID-19 issues with La Tech. No make-up date has been set.

There have been 57 games between schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision to be canceled or postponed because of the pandemic since late August - and 10 this week.

The Southeastern Conference, the Big Ten and the Pac-12 have all been forced to scramble at times this season. The Atlantic Coast Conference has not been immune, though most of the issues were in early September. This is the fifth conference game in the ACC to be postponed. One has already been made-up and Louisville at Virginia is scheduled to be played Saturday after it was postponed last week.

The conference has enjoyed relatively smooth sailing in recent weeks, though several high-profile players have been dealing with COVID-19, including Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Pitt is still scheduled to host Virginia Tech in its home finale on November 21 and travel to Clemson on November 28.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi argues a call as his team takes on Notre Dame in the second half of a game Saturday, October 24. Pittsburgh's football game at Georgia Tech was postponed after the Panthers were forced to pause team activities due to COVID-19 protocols