New York launches ‘Excelsior Pass’ to help reopen venues and businesses. 4 things to know about it

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday the launch of the Excelsior Pass, which was previously tested at events in New York City, including at New York Rangers and Brooklyn Nets games.
Here are four things you need to know about the program, according to the governor’s office:
  • Excelsior Pass uses secure technology to confirm an individual's vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test through a confidential data transfer to help fast-track the reopening of theaters, stadiums and other business in accordance with New York state guidelines.
  • Similar to a mobile airline boarding pass, individuals will be able to either print out their pass or store it on their smartphones using the Excelsior Pass's "Wallet App."
  • Each pass will have a secure QR code, which venues will scan using a companion app to confirm someone's COVID health status. The results of the pilot program will be used to enhance the quality of the application, maximizing return on investment and saving development time, prior to submission to Apple and Google for approval to go into their app stores.
  • Robust privacy protections are woven throughout the digital health pass solution, giving individuals a secure, verifiable and trusted way to maintain control of their personal health information using an encrypted digital smartphone wallet or printed credential.
Interested New Yorkers can download the Excelsior Pass Wallet app for Android here and for iOS here.