MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) The governors of the six New England states and New Jersey have extended a prohibition on interstate youth hockey through the end of January.

The governors took the action because of coronavirus outbreaks associated with youth hockey.

In a news release issued late Wednesday, the governors of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Jersey said they were extending the prohibition that had been set to expire on Thursday.

The prohibition applies to all youth hockey competitions for public and private schools and youth hockey leagues.