The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K. Tokaev, has declared a state of emergency and ban on all sporting events from March 16 to April 15, 2020, in response to concerns related to the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, Barys will not be able to hold a series of KHL playoff games in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Nur-Sultan Barys withdraws the team from the Gagarin Cup playoffs. Expect the KHL to announce they suspend the season in an hour or so
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) March 16, 2020
According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the following measures and temporary restrictions were introduced for the period of the state of emergency:
1) Establish restrictions on entry to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as on the exit from its territory for all modes of transport, with the exception of personnel of the diplomatic service of the Republic of Kazakhstan and foreign states, as well as members of delegations of international organizations going to the Republic of Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2) to prohibit the holding of spectator sports and other public events.
Thus, the Barys hockey club has been forced to refuse to participate in the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Earlier on Sunday, Helsinki Jokerit withdrew its team from the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Helsinki Jokerit withdraws the team out of the Gagarin Cup playoffs due to coronavirus threat. Jokerit made the second round of the #KHL playoffs which is expected to start on March 17, but there’s still a possibility the league will suspend the season https://t.co/ug2YpP7FEz
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) March 14, 2020
