Last Tuesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the pilot program of the “Excelsior Pass… a smartphone app developed through a partnership between the state and IBM, [which] will serve as a passport confirming one’s negative coronavirus test results or proof of vaccination.”
The governor stated,
“As we begin reopening the valves on different sectors of our economy, we are putting guidelines in place to ensure individuals attending events involving larger gatherings have tested negative for COVID or have been vaccinated to avoid an outbreak of the virus.
The Excelsior Pass will play a critical role in getting information to venues and sites in a secure and streamlined way, allowing us to fast-track the reopening of these businesses and getting us one step closer to reaching a new normal.”
An alternative for those without a mobile app will be to present an equivalent proof in paper form. Both the phone app and paper alternative were tested at both a Brooklyn Nets basketball game and New York Rangers hockey games. Cuomo guaranteed the system has built-in encryption technology to insure other private medical data is protected. He also said the passport system, for now, is voluntary.
TRENDPOST: While Governor Cuomo insists New York is opening up and relaxing restrictions, try squaring that assessment after reading through dozens of pages of detailed restrictions in place on the official New York State Guidelines published on its website.
For Sports & Recreation alone, there are six pages filled with hundreds of rules including:
“Type of Play Allowed
Risk factors such as Least ability to 1. avoid touching of shared equipment, 2. clean/disinfect equipment between uses by different individuals, or 3. not use shared equipment at all;
No more than 2 spectators per player.
Ensure 6 ft. distance between individuals at all times, whether indoors or outdoors, unless safety or core activity (e.g. practicing, playing) requires a shorter distance. If a shorter distance is required, individuals must wear face coverings, unless players are unable to tolerate such a covering for the physical activity (practicing, playing);
Ensure patrons/players interact only with their party at their assigned lane/table/board/game. Rigorously clean and disinfect any rented or shared equipment (e.g., bowling balls/shoes, pool/billiard cues/racks, and other game objects) between use.”
Note that while event restrictions are “loosening,” major limitations remain. According to the Wall Street Journal, the following rules still apply:
“Venues that conduct testing, such as sporting events, will be permitted to have 150 people indoors and 500 people outdoors. Attendees will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing.”
