Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced the launch of a new pilot program where New Yorkers would have to pass a sort of COVID-19 passport in order to enter sports venues, theaters and other businesses while the state continues to reopen efforts.
The plan is to test the “Excelsior Pass,” which will use safe technology to confirm whether a person has been vaccinated or had a recent negative COVID-19 test result, during events at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center, say Cuomo in a statement.
The pass was recently tested at the New York Rangers’ Tuesday night game at Madison Square Garden.
Similar to the airline’s boarding pass, people will be able to print it out or save it to their phones using the Excelsior Pass’s “Wallet App”. Each pass will have a secure QR code, which sites will scan using a complementary app to confirm a person’s health status.
“We are doing everything we can to vaccinate as many New Yorkers as possible, as quickly as possible, while maintaining the infection rate and reactivating our economy in a safe and smart way,” Cuomo said.
“The Excelsior Pass will play a critical role in getting information to places and places in a safe and streamlined way, allowing us to quickly track the reopening of these businesses and get one step closer to achieve a new normalcy, “he added.
MSG Entertainment praised the pilot program, saying: “We applaud Governor Cuomo’s leadership in reopening New York. The Excelsior Pass program, along with its decision to allow venues to start hosting fans, will play an important role in helping our city recover. “
Last Tuesday, Nets and Knicks fans were able to see their favorite teams play on the basketball court for the first time in almost a year.
This was made possible after Cuomo said in early February that large sports and entertainment venues with a minimum capacity of 10,000 people could reopen with a capacity limit of 10 percent from February 23. and that people will only be allowed to enter if it produces a negative value COVID-19 test.