Canadian health official: Raptors playing in Toronto 'tough on everyone involved'

The Toronto Raptors are no closer to hosting in-market games in Canada when the NBA season begins on Dec. 22 amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic. 

Per a story from the Associated Press and ESPN News services, officials such as Canada's Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njoo are concerned about the Raptors traveling back and forth between the two nations during the serious health crisis. 

While the Raptors reportedly offered a solid plan for how they'd handle this unique situation, Njoo added it would be "tough on everyone involved'' for team members to be as safe as NBA personnel were inside the "bubble" format at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex throughout the league's summer resumption. 

The border remains closed to nonessential travel for the foreseeable future, and anyone entering Canada must quarantine for 14 days. There's no sign either of those realities will change before Christmastime. 

The Toronto Blue Jays were confident they'd be able to play at Rogers Centre a week before the start of the MLB season but then learned they'd have to temporarily relocate to Buffalo after officials rejected their proposal. 

Reports emerged on Thursday that the Raptors have discussed making Tampa Bay their home market for at least a portion of the 2020-21 campaign if they can't play in Toronto by Dec. 22.