Spectators who have been vaccinated or have had a negative COVID-19 test will be allowed to attend in-person sporting events and outdoor concert venues in the coming days, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
The announcement means the New York Yankees and New York Mets will be allowed to have a limited number of fans in attendance for Opening Day next month. The outdoor sporting events will be limited to 20% capacity. Fans must have been vaccinated to attend, and COVID testing will also be in place, Cuomo said.
Indoor sporting events will be allowed to operate at 10% capacity.
Venues larger than 10,000 seats were allowed to open at 10% capacity last month, but with required testing for all fans.
The move comes as New York has administered about 7 million vaccinations, and more than 12% of the population has been vaccinated so far, according to the governor's office.
The COVID precautions may be revisited as the season progresses in the coming weeks.
Statewide travel for sports and recreational activity will also be approved starting on Monday, Cuomo said. Outdoor concert venues will also be allowed to operate starting Monday at 20% capacity.
"We're going to play ball, and we're going to play ball with a crowd," Cuomo said.
The event at the governor's Manhattan office was held without reporters present and no questions were allowed.