New York makes exception to allow fans at Bills playoff game

New York is making an exception to its restrictions on large garings to allow about 6,700 fans to attend a Buffalo Bills home playoff game in January as long as all test negative beforehand.

That’s about 10% of stadium's capacity. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said football team staff will only allow fans with negative tests to enter stadium, where y will be seated distanced apart. Fans must wear masks once y leave ir vehicles in parking lots until y return to ir vehicles, and will be asked to leave if y take off ir masks.

Cuomo, who had sent health department staff to study COVID-19 protocols at stadiums in or states, defended his administration's efforts to allow fans at game at a time when more n 11,000 New Yorkers a day are testing positive for COVID-19.

He said pilot program could be a model for re-opening businesses with rapid testing, which his budget director Robert Mujica said will be conducted in three days before game. Cuomo is directing his department of health to contact trace all 6,700 fans following game.

department didn’t immediately provide specifics on pilot program, including wher state has resources to contact trace all fans in days following game and if fans who were exposed to COVID-19 in week before game will be allowed to attend.

“We believe we are first state in nation to run this kind of pilot. We believe it can be very instructive to us going forward," Cuomo said.

State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker previously said he was looking into how to address potential for a post-game surge because of fans garing before and after game.

Zucker and Cuomo urged all fans Wednesday to t hold and attend tailgates, parties and or large garings.

team, on its website, said tickets will be offered to club seat and season ticket holders, based on seniority, and likely t general public. Fans will have to pay $63 cost of testing. game will be played on Jan. 9 or 10.

Bills have clinched ir first AFC East title since 1995. y will host a playoff game for first time since a 30-27 wild-card playoff loss to Jacksonville on Dec. 28, 1996, in what proved to be Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly’s final game.

Im credits: AP