EAST PROVIDENCE — Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the East Providence Athletics Department is limiting the number of spectators it will allow into the Ramos Gymnasium for the EPHS boys’ basketball Open State Tournament game against visiting Lincoln scheduled for Thursday night, March 12.

District Athletic Director Gregg Amore said no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets for the game will be distributed to family members through the players and coaches on both teams. Amore said the intention is to keep the number of patrons to approximately 300 or fewer. The Ramos Gymnasium has a normal capacity of about 1,000.

Amore said the move was being made in response to the strong suggestion of the Rhode Island Department of Health and the governor’s office to avoid so-called “large-scale” gatherings during the crisis as communal spread of the COVID-19 virus is now likely the main means of its transmission.