Unvaccinated Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will have to wait a bit longer before being allowed to play home games.
On Sunday afternoon, NYC mayor Eric Adams announced the city planned to drop its vaccine mandate if Covid indicators continue to show a low level of risk.
New York City’s #COVID numbers continue to go down.
So long as our indicators show a low level of risk and we see no surprises this week, on Monday, March 7 we will also remove the vaccination requirements for Key2NYC — meaning indoor dining, fitness and entertainment venues.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) February 27, 2022
Irving will still be subject to the city’s vaccine mandate for large employers and will not be allowed to play in home games until the private sector mandate is lifted.
New York City will lift Key2NYC vaccine mandate on March 7, assuming numbers stay on track, per Mayor Eric Adams.
But: I'm told the private sector mandate still restricts Kyrie Irving from playing in home games, although he could enter Barclays Center as spectator.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 27, 2022
Eric Adams’ press secretary confirms that Kyrie Irving will still not be eligible to play given private sector mandate decisions, yet Irving will be allowed to be in the arena.
Make it make sense — the science behind that decision simply does not. https://t.co/xWgYu01bhz
— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) February 27, 2022
Despite NYC Mayor Eric Adams' announcement, a city official told WABC-TV that Kyrie Irving would still not be able to play at the Barclays Center on March 7 as the city's vaccine mandate for workers remains in effect. pic.twitter.com/te7ILzsH8y
— ESPN (@espn) February 27, 2022
Here's interpretation on NYC Mayor's announcement: Kyrie Irving remains restricted from playing under NYC mandate for large employers, but March 7 loosening of Key2NYC mandate is another step in what's expected to be an inevitability Irving will be cleared to play this season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 27, 2022