With multiple confirmed cases of people going down with COVID-19 in the Caribbean, Cricket West Indies (CWI) suspended all domestic tournaments and face to face group meetings for the season for a minimum of 30 days from March 16 as part of measures to fight the pandemic. 

The recommendation made by the board's Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) was officially approved. 

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"The health and safety of our players, officials and staff, are of paramount importance to CWI and we have advised the Board of Directors to take proactive policy steps to decrease the growing risk of contamination and spread of the virus," said Israel Dowlat CWI Chief Medical Officer in a statement.

The tournaments affected include the Regional Under 15s Boys Championship, Regional Under 19s Girls Championship and final two rounds of the West Indies Championship that was due to begin from March 26. 

“We are acting based on medical best practice as well as in an abundance of caution," said Donovan Bennett, Chairman of the MAC. "The ongoing gathering of even small groups of spectators, cricketers and match officials could pose a risk to some persons of contracting the virus and being stranded in quarantine in a non-resident country for a prolonged period."

"Clearly this pandemic is still evolving, and we will continue to monitor the situation throughout the Caribbean," he added. 

Further, all local cricket associations and territorial boards have been asked to follow the advice of their respective Health Ministries.

(Inputs from ANI)