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| - The Columbus Blue Jackets plan to play National Hockey League home games with spectators Thursday and Saturday despite Ohio governor Mike DeWine's request that indoor sports events be played in empty arenas due to the coronavirus. DeWine said Wednesday he will issue an order in the next 24 to 36 hours banning teams from playing front of ticket buyers as the Jackets plan to do Thursday against Pittsburgh and Saturday against Nashville. "I thank those who have already chosen to limit large events in response to yesterday's recommendation," he tweeted. "For the others, there will be an order." The Blue Jackets, clinging to the final Eastern Conference playoff berth with 12 games remaining in the regular season, reacted to DeWine's recommendation for empty arenas Tuesday by saying they would play in front of fans anyway. "I'm sure whichever way you go with your decision there are going to be some people who criticize you," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kakalainen said Wednesday. "We as an organization are trying to make sure we do eveything in our control to make the workplace as safe as possible for everybody and be in constant contact with the medical experts, not only locally but on the league level and make sure we've done everything we can to make sure this is a safe place." DeWine's plans to order a ban might force the Blue Jackets to change their stance, Kakalainen said. "That's his recommendation and as a league we've decided to play in front of our fans and we're doing that which on the league level has been decided. We will take every precaution possible to make sure that people who attend our games are as safe as possible," he said. "If it becomes a law then it's a law and it's a whole different situation. For now it's a recommendation... if we have to change the course of action, we'll do that." The Blue Jackets said they, the NHL and the arena were closely monitoring the coronavirus situation, which earlier Wednesday led the NBA's Golden State Warriors to say they will play in an empty arena at home Thursday against Brooklyn. The Blue Jackets cited the NHL being in regular contact with "the Center for Disease Control, Public Health Canada, numerous medical advisors and other leagues and we are committed to the health and safety of our players, staff and fans." They suggested elderly people and those with health issues or who feel ill "avoid large-scale public events." But the team cited arena protocols to fight the spread of viruses such as a detailed cleaning and more hand sanitizer dispensers. js/
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