California Gov. Gavin Newsom has recently announced plans to develop an electronic system that helps Californians show proof they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
The new program will not serve as a “passport.” However, it will be the electronic version of the paper proof that health officials give to Americans who received their vaccine shots.
“We’ll be doing something that provides you the opportunity – we’ll announce this later this week – to have an electronic version of your paper version of vaccination,” Newsom said. “It’s not a passport, it’s not a requirement. It’s just the ability now to have an electronic version of that paper version.”
California Reopening Plans
Businesses across the California state are set to fully reopen this week. However, many business owners have voiced concerns over face mask enforcement as federal guidelines say unvaccinated customers and workers are still required to wear coverings indoors.
Businesses have scrambled to enforce the rules as the paper vaccination cards could easily be forged.
Electronic proof has been the center of controversy in recent weeks, with many fearing it could violate the privacy rights of its users. In Orange County, where officials are currently developing an electronic verification program, conspiracy theorists stormed a Board of Supervisors meeting, claiming that the system could potentially be used to track users.
