OFFICIAL: Mayor Eric Adams Lifts Vaccine Mandates
New York Mets fans celebrate. New York Yankees fans celebrate. Brooklyn Nets fans, and especially Kyrie Irving, celebrate! After months of debate, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has lifted…

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 17: New York Mayor Eric Adams speaks during the 2022 New York State Democratic Convention at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel on February 17, 2022 in New York City. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the keynote address during the second day of the New York Democratic Convention where the party organized the party’s platform and nominated candidates for statewide offices that will be on the ballot this year including the nomination of Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
New York Mets fans celebrate.
New York Yankees fans celebrate.
Brooklyn Nets fans, and especially Kyrie Irving, celebrate!
After months of debate, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has lifted the employers vaccine mandate that required employees in New York City, including professional athletes and performers must be vaccinated. As a result, Irving, who has only been eligible to play in road games for the Brookyln Nets can now return to Barclays Center. It also means that any unvaccinated New York Mets and New York Yankees player can also play ball in New York City as well.
The announcement was made officially at Citi Field in Queens, the home of the New York Mets.
"This is about putting New York athletes on a level playing field," Adam said during a news conference at Citi Field. "We were treating our performers differently because they live and play in New York City."
When asked by the press why athletes and performers who lived outside New York City were exempt from the vaccine mandate, the mayor referenced the economic impact when referring to the athletes.
According to reports Yankees President Randy Levine said that economics was a driving factor in lobbying City Hall to change its mind before Opening Day on April 7.
In addressing the reports of what the New York Mets would do with unvaccainated employees and players, Mets President Sandy Alderson said that any employee who didn't comply with COVID vaccine mandates had their employment terminated, adding that players are protected by the Union from termination.
Even with the lifting of the mandate, Adams still encouraged that athletes like Kyrie Irving get vaccinated against the virus.
"Kyrie, you should get vaccinated," Adams said. "This does not change my message that everyone should get vaccinated."
To see full press conference, click the link: