How NYC confused everyone over its not-an-app vaccination 'pass'

On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new initiative called the "Key to NYC Pass," requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for indoor settings like restaurants, gyms, and concert venues.

As reported by the New York Times, "To enter indoor venues, [workers and customers] must use the city’s new digital app, the state’s Excelsior app, or a paper card to show proof of vaccination."

If you're a little bit confused about what the "pass" part of all this is, you're not alone —it certainly (and understandably) caused confusion around the Twitterverse.

Prepare to be unconfused. Hopefully. "The city's new digital app" doesn't refer to the Key to NYC Pass (that's the NYC COVID SAFE app, which was released on July 29), and despite the use of the word "pass," there's no new physical pass at all. That's simply what the State of New York is calling its new mandate.

"[Key to NYC Pass] is not an app. It's just a requirement to use one of the existing ways to show proof — CDC card, Excelsior Pass, NYC COVID SAFE app," said spokesperson Laura Feyer in an email to Mashable. If you do want to use an app, you can opt for the latter of the two.

Mayor de Blasio echoed the same statement during Tuesday's livestream from City Hall: "We've got three great ways for people to prove that they are vaccinated. We need people to use one of those things if they want to go to indoor dining, entertainment, or fitness facilities."

So, no, you don't have to download yet another app to your phone. You can use any of those aforementioned ways.

But it's worth noting, the Excelsior Pass is only applicable to those who received their COVID-19 vaccine (or a negative test result) in the State of New York. The NYC COVID Safe app, on the other hand, allows anyone to upload their vaccine card or weekly proof of a negative test result from any state.

If you don't want to store your card on your phone via an app, your other option is to carry it around on your indoor journeys through NYC. Just make sure to hang on to it tight. And if you don't have a card — or a vaccine — yet, get one: The policy will be fully enforced for everyone old enough to receive vaccines come September 13.