Effective immediately, California State University, Chico, in concert with the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), has suspended all athletic activity indefinitely.

All teams that were on the road are returning to Chico, and all home events scheduled for this weekend and beyond are canceled.

"We are grateful for the leadership of our CCAA Presidents/Chancellors Group during this difficult, quickly-evolving situation," said Chico State Director of Athletics Anita Barker. "Ensuring the health and safety of our student-athletes, along with the wider community, is vital.

"We are doing all we can to care for our student-athletes, who are experiencing a wide range of emotions, and will continue to support them in the coming days, weeks, and months."

Also Thursday, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) canceled all winter and spring championships.

The NCAA released the following statement on Thursday afternoon: Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.

Earlier Thursday afternoon, the CCAA released the following statement: In consultation with the California Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA) Presidents/Chancellor Board, effective immediately, the CCAA suspends, until further notice, all intercollegiate athletic activities, including in-person campus recruiting (on and off campus).

CSU, Chico has been monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation very closely since December. In addition to the University's own proactive emergency-preparedness efforts, we will continue to closely follow all health and preparedness protocols from the Butte County Public Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health experts.

Please visit Chico State's official COVID-19 Info website for the most up-to-date information.