New Mexico drops mask mandate for fully vaccinated youth athletes
Jason Groves
LAS CRUCES - As temperatures hold steady in the triple digits, youth athletes, as well as coaches, will no longer need to wear masks on the field of play if fully vaccinated.
The Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham administration Thursday announced the revision to the state's public health order, affecting COVID Safe Practices for children 3 and older.
If athletes and coaches are not vaccinated, they need to continue to wear masks, the order states.
"A person is considered fully vaccinated when they reach two weeks after their second dose of Pfizer and Moderna or two weeks after their one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine," according to the updated order.
The updated guidance is effective immediately.
The state was also considering setting aside up to $1 million in cash incentives for youth sports and academic teams whose members get vaccinated by the end of July. If approved, it would mark the state's latest round of incentives aimed at boosting vaccinations.
More:Group presses New Mexico to reconsider student mask-wearing policy, especially athletes
The revised order applies to high school and club sports throughout the summer. The spring season for high school sports ends in the next two weeks.
"It kind of seemed like that was the trend that if people were getting vaccinated, they were able to do more things," Las Cruces football coach Mark Lopez said.
New Mexico dropped its mask mandate for most fully vaccinated residents on May 14, though there were some restrictions, such as in schools and youth sports.
According to the updated order, vaccinated residents "must be tracked by the New Mexico Activities Association or the team’s affiliated sports association. Sports associations must report de-identified vaccination data to the Office of the Governor when requested."
The Las Cruces Youth Soccer Association shares NMAA rules regarding mask wearing for athletes and coaches, but also worked under City regulations that do not require spectators and vaccinated athletes ages 12 and over to wear masks.
"We are kind of in a dilemma as a league and haven't pushed it very hard because we are just volunteers and don't want to go at people so if they say they have been vaccinated, we have been taking people at their honor," LCYSL president Ron Nestle said.
Nestle said that coaches were required to provide proof of vaccination when the league was able to re-start in May. With just two weeks remaining in the youth soccer league's season, players are temperature checked before practices and games.
"I would say the majority of the teams in the league are wearing masks," Nestle said.