TORONTO — The Blue Jays have been denied approval by the Canadian govt to play in Toronto amid the coronavirus pandemic.

An official familiar with the subject instructed The Associated Press Saturday the federal federal government has denied the request. The official spoke on issue of anonymity since they had been not approved to converse ahead of the announcement.

The staff had been offered clearance by town and provincial governments to play regular-year game titles at Rogers Centre and was awaiting acceptance from Canada’s federal authorities.

MLB essential an exemption to a need that anybody getting into Canada for nonessential good reasons should self-isolate for 14 days. The U.S.-Canada border remains shut to nonessential journey till at the very least Aug. 21.

Allowing video games in Toronto would have meant repeated again-and-forth journey to the U.S., where COVID-19 conditions are surging. Canada has flattened the epidemic curve.

The NHL has gained an exemption for its restart to the season, but that was a considerably less complicated circumstance because the online games are restricted to two hubs — Edmonton and Toronto.

The Blue Jays are scheduled to start the time July 24 at Tampa Bay. Their home opener was established for five days afterwards against Washington.

The Blue Jays obtained an exemption for summer camp, through which the gamers agreed to isolate in the resort hooked up to Rogers Centre and develop a quarantine environment. Gamers are not permitted to go away the stadium or resort and violators encounter fines of up to $750,000 Canadian ($551,000 U.S.) and up to 6 months in jail.