The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
___
The NHL’s COVID-19 numbers have dropped steadily over the past five days.
After peaking at 59 players last Friday, the number was down to 18 after Wednesday night’s action. That marks the fewest on the list since 17 were listed on Jan. 19.
The New Jersey Devils still lead all NHL teams in both the number of players and the number of combined days on the COVID-19 list. The Devils have had 21 players with a combined 256 days on the list, while the Flyers have pushed into fifth place with players having spent 63 combined days on the list, one more than Carolina.
Andreas Athanasiou of the Los Angeles Kings has now spent 21 consecutive days on the list. That's a high among players.
___
Wisconsin is expecting to have fans back in the Camp Randall Stadium stands for the upcoming football season after playing without spectators at home games last year.
The school released a video message from athletic director Barry Alvarez saying that “we are planning to have our fans back in the stands.” Alvarez added that school officials really don’t know how many people will be allowed.
___
The Atlantic Coast Conference says the league won’t make public tickets available for fans to attend its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
In a statement Thursday, the league said attendance at the two tournaments in Greensboro, North Carolina, would be limited to family and guests of team personnel. The ACC cited current state health regulations, saying the league would take any potential changes to those guidelines under consideration.
The Greensboro Coliseum will require masks to be worn by anyone in the facility. The women’s tournament is March 3-7, while the men’s tournament is March 9-13.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports