(Condé Nast Traveler) Consider it a fast pass of sorts: A safe and efficient way to return to Broadway theaters, concert halls, sporting arenas, and other big group settings by simply presenting a QR code as proof of either full COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test. That’s the idea behind New York’s Excelsior Pass, which launched last Friday, making it the first state to debut a COVID-19 vaccine passport.
The Excelsior Pass allows New Yorkers to upload their official results—from a number of different vaccination sites and labs—into the system to verify that the person holding the pass meets the standards to enter a venue for mass gatherings. Ticket takers, bouncers, and more can then easily check attendees in, without having to look through printed documents and other apps to see whether someone’s negative lab test results are from the last 72 hours or if it’s been two weeks since the final vaccination dose was given.