New York Mets and New York Yankees players who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 would not be allowed to play homes games – in New York City, the New York Post reported. 

New York City’s private employer mandate that went into effect December 27 prohibits unvaccinated players from being in a workplace. 

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The Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season begins on April 7, when the Yankees host the Boston Red Sox.

The New York ordinance does not differentiate between indoor and outdoor work spaces.

It says, “Businesses may not allow any unvaccinated workers to work at their workplace. A workplace is considered any location – including a vehicle – where you work in the presence of at least one other person.”

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 A city hall official who was not authorized to speak on the record noted that the start of the season is a month away, too far out to make a determination about what will happen then as the city continues to monitor COVID-19 cases, the Associated Press reported. 

The Yankees said in a statement that team president Randy Levine was “working with city hall and all other appropriate officials on this matter.”

“We will have no further comment,” the team added.

New York Mets were one of the six teams last season who failed to reach the 85% threshold for vaccinations that allowed relaxed protocols. 

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Even if New York’s mandate is lifted, unvaccinated Yankees players would have to sit out nine games scheduled in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Canada’s government requires a person must have received a second vaccine dose — or one dose of Johnson & Johnson — at least 14 days prior to entry.

Major League Baseball and the players’ association agreed as part of their new labor contract last week that unvaccinated players will not be paid for games in Toronto that they miss because of the mandate.

New York’s first visit to Toronto is a three-game series that begins May 2.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that he is concerned about the roster impact of the COVID-19 rules in Toronto.