The first COVID-19 digital pass has arrived on Friday, March 26. It is now offered by New York, making it the first state to offer this kind of application. This innovation will surely be helpful since it allows individuals to show proof of a negative coronavirus test or vaccination.
A man looks at his smartphone as he waits next to the entrance of an undergound station on March 11, 2020 in Milan, Italy. The Italian Government has strengthened up its quarantine rules, shutting all commercial activities except for pharmacies, food shops, gas stations, tobacco stores and news kiosks in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
According to The New York Times' latest report, the launch of the new app called "Excelsior Pass" is a part of an effort to fast-track the reopening of sports arenas, entertainment venues, and other businesses in New York City.
The state partnered with IBM (International Business Machines) to developed the new health app. They explained that it functions just like a mobile airline boarding pass. This means that the users who download the new Excelsior Pass app will be provided with a digital pass, which has a secure QR code. To give you more idea, here's how this innovation works.
'Excelsior Pass' app's function
COVID-19 Vaccine Health's latest report confirmed explained that the new "Excelsior Pass" application is specifically developed to help various businesses and venues to reopen. People can use it to store their COVID-19 digital pass via their smartphones.
A man looks at his smartphone as he waits next to the entrance of an undergound station on March 11, 2020 in Milan, Italy. The Italian Government has strengthened up its quarantine rules, shutting all commercial activities except for pharmacies, food shops, gas stations, tobacco stores and news kiosks in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Installing it on your gadget is pretty easy since it is available on both Google Play Store and App Store. On the other hand, the app's developers stated that the users are required to provide a valid ID. This means that their birth date and name should be included on their identification card.
Once the users receive their digital passes, they can now print them from the Excelsior Pass' official website. When it comes to minor users, their guardians should be the ones holding their printed COVID-19 digital passes.
They need to present it as they enter an establishment. Although their digital passes confirm that they have negative coronavirus tests or are fully vaccinated, they are still required to follow CDC and New York city's guidance regarding face coverings, hand hygiene, and social distancing. Meanwhile, IBM confirmed that people are not required to install the new health app.
Is the new app safe to use?
Some people may ask if the new Excelsior Pass app is safe to use. If you are one of them, then you have nothing to worry about since IBM and the state confirmed that keeps user data secure and confidential.
"The question of 'public health or the economy has always been a false choice - the answer must be both," explained Andrew Cuomo, New York's governor.
"As more New Yorkers get vaccinated each day and as key public health metrics continue to regularly reach their lowest rates in months, the first-in-the-nation Excelsior Pass heralds the next step in our thoughtful, science-based reopening," he added.
For more news updates about COVID-19 and the upcoming innovations against it, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.
