Canada tells Blue Jays they can't play in Toronto because of the coronavirus pandemic

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

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino made the announcement in a statement. An official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press earlier Saturday the federal government had denied the request.

MLB needed an exemption to a requirement that anyone entering Canada for nonessential reasons must self-isolate for 14 days.

The team was informed of the decision in a phone call.

The Blue Jays' alternate site for home games is the team's training facility in Dunedin, Florida, one of the states hardest-hit by the virus.