MESA, Ariz. — As global institutions try to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Kris Bryant has remained in contact with the Major League Baseball Players Association. To this point, the Cubs’ union representative hasn’t been notified about closed stadiums or a delayed start to the season. But the pandemic has disrupted so many aspects of everyday life that status quo may not be an option.

“There are things bigger than baseball,” Bryant said Wednesday at the Sloan Park complex. “This is something that we need to take very seriously.”

As Bryant spoke with reporters, the muted TV tuned to ESPN in the corner of the media room showed an on-screen graphic relaying the news the NCAA would hold its basketball tournaments without fans in attendance.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors announced Thursday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets would be played without fans at Chase Center, in accordance with San Francisco’s ban on all group events drawing more than 1,000 people. By Wednesday night, the NBA suspended its season indefinitely after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

“At some point, somebody (in baseball) will get coronavirus,” Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish said. “If somebody (does), I think MLB will do the same thing as the NBA.”

Darvish learned about the NBA’s decision when he returned to the clubhouse after throwing three innings against the San Diego Padres in a Cactus League exhibition. It is a fast-moving situation with a lot of unknowns.

The Seattle Mariners already decided their first two season-opening series won’t be staged at T-Mobile Park after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee banned mass gatherings in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The state of Washington has more than 260 reported cases of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Baseball’s in a different spot,” Bryant said, “just because we haven’t actually started our season yet, so MLB and everybody can really nail this. I don’t know what’s on the table — no fans, delay the season. I just think people’s safety is the utmost importance right now. Obviously, it would be nice to play games with the fans and full stadiums, and there’s a lot of other stuff to be taken into consideration. But people’s health is the most important thing to me.”

Bryant — who’s among the most thoughtful and accessible stars in the game — would normally hold such a media session in front of his locker. But MLB cut off media access to all 30 clubhouses in Arizona and Florida, joining the NBA, NHL and MLS in what’s being framed as a temporary containment measure. Though Cubs players and PR officials have helped facilitate interviews, Bryant acknowledged it felt strange to be sitting at a table in the media room answering questions.

“Obviously, it seems to be getting worse and worse,” Bryant said. “But the main priority here is people’s safety and health. I think we are all willing to accept ways that would keep us safe and keep everybody else safe. It’s really weird that we have to do things like this now, but we’ll all do our best to accommodate you guys (in the media). The situation is not ideal, but we’ll work through it.”

With Opening Day only two weeks away, Bryant expects the union to soon begin communicating the next steps for players, and that could eventually include playing in empty stadiums.

“It definitely wouldn’t be the same at all,” Bryant said. “We feed off the fans and feed off the energy. Wrigley Field is such a home-field advantage for us. It certainly would be weird. But if that’s where we’re going, then obviously we’re all going to have to come together on this and figure out the best solution.

“It’s people’s safety and health that’s the most important thing. If we can find a way to not put people in jeopardy, that’s what I’m all for. People’s lives mean more to me than the game of baseball.”

MLBPA executive director Tony Clark issued a statement on Wednesday. “The Players Association is in daily contact with Major League Baseball, and our staffs are conferring regularly with federal health officials, state and local governments and infectious disease experts to develop contingency plans,” he said. “As circumstances evolve, our efforts will evolve as well.

“Players want to compete and provide entertainment to fans. The Association’s focus will remain finding ways to do so in an environment that protects not just players’ personal health and safety, but also the health and safety of fans, umpires, ballpark employees, club employees and everyone in the baseball family.”

Opening Day decisions seem trivial, and March 26, when the first games will be played, should be written in pencil. But Cubs manager David Ross has narrowed his Opening Day choices to Darvish or Kyle Hendricks and probably already knows the answer. Darvish declined to say whether Rob Manfred should preemptively postpone the season. “I’m not an MLB commissioner, so I can’t say anything about it,” he said.

But if he was commissioner, Darvish said, he would want more information and take another week to assess options.

“We’re talking (about it),” Darvish said. “We’re watching TV. We care.”

Bryant spent some extra time at home with his pregnant wife, Jessica, after the Cubs’ split-squad trip to Las Vegas over the weekend. He drove back to Arizona on Wednesday and did not want to sound cavalier about a public health crisis or pretend the Cubs are invincible.

“It’s something that we’re going to have to talk about and take (seriously),” Bryant said. “People just need to be considerate of one another and what they’re doing. If you’re sick, don’t go to work. Wash your hands, like I’ve been doing. Hopefully, everybody else is doing the same thing. Sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice. … Sing whatever song you want to. Just be considerate of others.”

(Photo: Rick Scuteri / USA Today)