March Madness hasn't even started and already, the NCAA appears to be battling what could quickly develop into a coronavirus outbreak within the tournament. No less than six high-profile tournament officials have reportedly been removed from the tournament after a number of positive COVID-19 test results were returned.

This report comes via Jeff Goodman of Stadium Basketball:

Six of college basketball’s top officials for the NCAA Tournament — including Ted Valentine, John Higgins and Roger Ayers — have been removed from the NCAA Tournament due to one positive COVID-19 test, resulting in contact tracing involving the others.

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According to the report, John Gaffney, Kipp Kissinger, and Ray Natili have also been sent home. The six officials reportedly went out to have dinner upon arriving in Indianapolis on Sunday. The group initially reported to the hotel but they decided to eat out since their rooms weren't ready yet upon their arrival. The NCAA officials had dinner together in Harry & Izzy’s Steakhouse in downtown Indianapolis and were not wearing face masks throughout the duration of their time together.

One of the referees from the group returned a positive test result on Sunday night, which was confirmed with two more positive tests on Monday. As such, the entire group has been asked to leave after the Indiana Department of Health decided that they were unfit to participate in the tournament.

Protocols require the NCAA to perform contact tracing efforts in the wake of this incident. It remains to be seen if more officials will be removed from the tournament as a result.