Like many other organizations in Japan, professional baseball is adjusting to the state of emergency declared Tuesday by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The declaration covers seven prefectures, including Tokyo, and will be in effect until at least May 6.
Shortly after Abe made the declaration official, NPB said it would close its main office, located in Tokyo's Minato Ward, for the time being. Commissioner Atsushi Saito also released a statement saying the league would have to further delay the start of its season.