© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
As cases of COVID-19 around the United States and in California continue to rise at a harrowing, rapid pace, multiple California counties are instituting measures to attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Santa Clara County, where the 49ers, San Jose Sharks, Stanford University and San Jose State all reside, announced Saturday that all contact sports, including youth, collegiate and professional sports, will be prohibited.
Santa Clara County (Stanford, San Jose State, 49ers) announced contact sports will be temporarily prohibited until at least Dec. 21. pic.twitter.com/rVEI6gO2kK
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) November 28, 2020
What does this mean for the 49ers’ immediate future? It will likely not be in Santa Clara. This would seem to include not just games, but practices, which would include activities at the team’s practice facility. According to multiple reports, the team is looking into alternative locations.
If the 49ers cannot get an exemption, the team will have to move to an alternate site. Currently, the team has three remaining games scheduled at home: December 7 against the Buffalo Bills, December 13 against the Washington Football Team, and January 3, the season finale, against the Seattle Seahawks. The first two of those, and any practices before December 21, would fall in that window.
After news broke, the 49ers released the following statement:
“We are aware of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department’s emergency directive. We are working with the NFL and our partners on operational plans and will share details as they are confirmed.”