Timeline of how the COVID-19 pandemic ha

The ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic has roiled every layer of society and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Major League Baseball has been no exception. What follows is a timeline of how the outbreak has affected MLB, which not so long ago was providing us with the comfortable routines and a sumptions of spring training. Now, the only thing certain about the 2020 season is the uncertainty surrounding it. This is how we got to that uncertain and uneasy place in baseball. Dec. 31, 2019:The China offices of the World Health Organization (WHO) are of unknown origin. Jan. 7, 2020:Chinese authorities , which will come to be known as COVID-19. Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that can cause illne ses as minor as the common cold, or as serious as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), . The COVID-19 virus can cause symptoms including fever, cough, and shortne s of breath, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Gardner Minshew II Jersey Prevention. While some patients show mild symptoms and recover, others develop life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia. Jan. 13, 2020:Thailand reports . Jan. 20, 2020:The first U.S. case of COVID-19 . Feb. 10, 2020:Pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training in Arizona and Florida. Feb. 14, 2020:Position players begin reporting to spring training. Feb. 22, 2020:Cactus and Grapefruit League spring training games begin. Feb. 28, 2020:WHO elevates the global threat level for COVID-19 from "high" to "very high," which puts it in the same category as the existing threat level for mainland China. March 3, 2020:WHO confirms . March 4, 2020:WHO confirms . March 9, 2020:Following a conference call with all 30 teams, announces its intent to continue playing spring training games and to open the regular season on March 26 as planned. The statement notes that MLB has been in regular contact with health officials. MLB does, however, limit clubhouse acce s to players and e sential personnel. Most notably, this means media are no longer allowed in spring training clubhouses. March 10, 2020:The are looking into the po sibility of playing regular season games at their spring training facilities in Arizona, . March 11, 2020:Washington governor Jay Inslee, whose Mike Quick Jersey state has been hit the earliest and the hardest by COVID-19, announces a ban on large group gatherings through at least the end of March. Soon after, the Mariners announce that they "are working with the Major League Baseball office of the commi sioner on alternative plans for our games that were scheduled for the end of March at T-Mobile Park in Seattle." The K'Von Wallace Jersey City and County of San Francisco also announce a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people. The soon after announce that their scheduled March 24 exhibition against the in Oracle Park in San Francisco has been cancelled. The City of Oakland and Alameda County likewise announce a prohibition on public gatherings of 1,000 people or more people through the end of March. The A's announce they are working with MLB to reschedule the affected games. MLB is exploring the option of having teams from the most affected locations play games at alternative sites as opposed to playing in empty home ballparks, . The suspends its season indefinitely after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tests positive for the virus. The preliminary positive test result is learned moments before the Jazz tip-off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The news and the NBA's swift response to it will lead to the shuttering of other major sports leagues and events. WHO declares the COVID-19 outbreak . March 12, 2020:MLB announces that spring training games are cancelled as of 4 p.m. ET and that the start of the regular season has been pushed back two weeks. Opening Day had originally been scheduled for March 26. MLB's decision comes after the NBA, , and MLS all suspended their seasons, which were already in progre s. The NCAA cancels the all spring and winter championships. Most notably, that means neither the men's nor women's NCAA Basketball Tournament will be held in 2020. It also means that the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, has been cancelled even though the event isn't until early June -- almost three months away. For the first time, the MLB Draft had been scheduled to be held in Omaha during the College World Series.March 13, 2020:MLB announces that spring training camps have been suspended. Major league players have the option to return home, remain near camp in Arizona or Florida, or return to their team's home city. The . The announce that director of player relations and community outreach Donovan Mitchell Sr. has tested negative for the Reggie White T Shirts coronavirus. Mitchell is the father of NBA star Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, who had previously tested positive. WHO confirms . March 15, 2020:The Yankees confirm that a minor leaguer in their system has tested positive for coronavirus. The unnamed player becomes the first MLB-affiliated player to be a confirmed COVID-19 case. The team quarantines all minor leaguers for two weeks. , MLB advises non-roster players -- i.e., those not on a team's 40-man roster -- to return home. MLB also advises teams against holding group workouts. As for players on the 40-man roster, the memo states that "pursuant to our understanding with the Players A sociation, 40-man roster players must be permitted to remain at the club's spring training site, and are eligible to receive their usual spring training allowances. (Those players currently on optional a signment should receive allowances in accordance with the past practice of the club.) We understand that many 40-man roster players have chosen to remain in camp to date, but we anticipate that may change in the coming days as events continue to unfold and players become better educated about current conditions."March 16, 2020: that the start of the 2020 regular season will be pushed back until at least the middle of May. Commi sioner Rob Manfred says team owners still hope to play a full regular season schedule, . Also on this day, that he's hearing that an early July start date for the regular season is a best-case scenario. Anthony Harris Jersey Yankees manager Aaron Boone during an appearance on MLB Network Radio says . MLB and MLBPA announce a joint $1 million donation to be split evenly between the Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America organizations. March 17, 2020:The Yankees confirm that a second minor leaguer in their system has tested positive for the virus. The team states the player has been quarantined and is seeing his symptoms