Nearly 80000 of the original COVID-19 Excelsior passes are set to expire – Times Union

ALBANY Nearly 80,000 of the states original COVID-19 Excelsior passes are set to expire on June 30for e-certificates received after March 1, prompting the state Department of Health to encourage those vaccinated in New York to obtain the latest version of the app Excelsior Pass Plus.

Many of the original electronic passes issued over the past year have already expired, although the state no longer mandates that restaurants or entertainment venues require proof of vaccination to enter. In fact, requiring someone to provide a coronavirus vaccination record is so rare that it's unclear why the state is continuing to promote the Excelsior app.

One of the exceptions is the state Capitol and Legislative Office Building in Albany, where visitors still must show a proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter. But that policy has its caveats, as security officers will allow someone with an expired Excelsior app which could mean the person never received a booster shot to enter the government complex.

According to the health department, even as vaccination mandates are waning, there are no plans for the "Plus Pass" to be discontinued. They noted it also can be utilized outside of the state. As of March 1, 732,748 upgraded versions of the pass have been obtained in New York.

But roughly 20 states, all with Republican governors, have passed laws or issued executive orders prohibiting requiring someone to show proof of vaccination. In other states where the policies are allowed, some restaurants, bars and entertainment venues have continued to require patrons to show proof of vaccination to enter, although the number of businesses doing that are dwindling.

A representative for the Office of General Services, which evaluates COVID-19 restrictions for the Capitol complex in conjunction with other state offices, declined to directly respond to a question about whether the agency plans to stop requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination to get inside. The policy includes allowing visitors only to enter the Capitol or LOB through the Empire State Plaza concourse, with entrances on State Street and Washington Avenue remaining closed to visitors.

Since former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration launched the Excelsior Pass initiative last year, more than 10.8 million passes have been issued, including over 3.9 million plus passes. The original passes were only valid for a 180-day period before they were extended to a 365-day pass.

There are no major differences between the original pass and the latest version.

Individuals dont need a booster shot to obtain the "Pass Plus," which can be obtained by anyone who has had an initial completed vaccination series that's on file in the New York State Immunization Information System.

Despite receiving vaccines and booster shots, breakthrough infections still occur. Masks are still required to be worn on most public transportation across New York but not on airlines and in some in-state facilities.In a written statement, a representative for the state Department of Health said, "The state continues to urge New Yorkers to retrieve their Excelsior Pass Plus through ongoing public outreach including Excelsior Pass push notifications and social media efforts."

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Nearly 80000 of the original COVID-19 Excelsior passes are set to expire - Times Union