By Canadian Press

Raptors permitted limited access to OVO Centre as of Monday

May 8, 2020 | 8:04 AM

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors will be allowed limited access to OVO Athletic Centre as of Monday, two months after the NBA suspended play due to COVID-19.

The Raptors and Major League Sports and Entertainment Ltd., announced guidelines — including just one player in the building at a time — to permit workouts at the practice facility just west of downtown Toronto.

The safeguards including allowing only access to the court. Locker rooms, medical facilities, offices, the weight room, and other areas of the building will remain closed.

The access is to allow mainly for shooting, as the players have weights and other conditioning equipment at their homes.

While the NBA is allowing for four players at a time, the Raptors have determined they’ll allow one player in the building at a time. The player will be accompanied by one coach, and there will be no overlap between groups.

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Staff members are required to wear glove and masks, and players will masks at all times, except when on the court.

A thorough cleaning of all spaces and equipment, including balls, will occur both before and after each player uses the building.

Symptom and temperature checks will be done by medical staff before anyone enters the OVO Centre.

No media, public, or general staff will have access to the building.

The access comes two months to the day after the league suspended play on March 11. Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus that day, and the NBA shuttered within hours.   

The Toronto Raptors and MLSE said they released the guidelines after working closely with local government, infectious disease experts and public health authorities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 8, 2020.

The Canadian Press