Mayor Adams to Lift COVID Vaccine Mandate for Athletes Today

And just like that Kyrie Irving, and the number of undisclosed Mets and Yankees can now return to the field of play.

Less than 24 hours after standing firmly behind his sentiment that he would not lift the private employer mandate that requires employees in New York City to be vaccinated against COVID-19, which also includes professional athletes, there are reports that Mayor Eric Adams will remove the mandate for athletes today.  That means that Kyrie Irving, who has not gotten the jab against COVID, as well as a number of unnamed New York Mets and Yankees players will be able to play in home games.

Irving will be eligible to in Barclays Center March 27 when the Nets host the Charlotte Hornets. Irving was averaging 27 points per game in 19 road games this season. Last night, the NBA superstar put down 43 points in Brooklyn's 132-120 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Meanwhile, the Mets and Yankees are closing in on the end of an abbreviated spring training, and there had been concern that a number of key players were unvaccinated, although no names had ever been officially documented. Many in the press assumed that players like Aaron Judge and Jacob deGrom were possibly unvaccinated based on evasive comments.

With the Yankees set to open the season April 7 against the Boston Red Sox, and the Mets home opener scheduled for April 15, now those concerns should be put the wayside.

Ironically, unvaccinated players on road teams were allowed to play in games in New York against the Nets and Knicks, and would have been allowed to do so agianst the Mets and Yankees. Talk about a competitive advantage.

Mayor Adams is expected to address the media today at 11:30 from Citi Field.