Uber Will Require Drivers and Riders in US to Wear Face Masks/Coverings

*As many states prepare to ease coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, Uber will reportedly require riders and drivers in the US to wear face masks/coverings. 

The new policy will roll out over the “coming weeks,” according to a report by CNN Business. 

“As countries reopen, Uber is focused on safety and proceeding with caution,” said a Uber spokesperson in a statement on Monday. “Today, we continue to ask riders to stay home if they can, while shipping safety supplies to drivers who are providing essential trips. At the same time, our teams are preparing for the next phase of recovery, where we will all have a role to play.” 

Via CNN:

Uber is in the process of developing technology to detect if drivers are wearing masks or face coverings before they go online and start accepting trips. The company already has face verification capabilities as part of its “Real Time ID-check” feature used to verify the identity of drivers. Uber is also looking into ways to hold riders accountable. 

The plans to introduce a policy around requiring masks or face coverings in certain markets.  

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Big Tech Offers A Way to Track COVID-19 with Cell Phones

We’re teaming up with @Ro to make their free COVID-19 telehealth assessment available to all independent workers. Whether you work w/ @Uber, @UberEats, @Lyft, @DoorDash, @Postmates or others, we encourage you to take advantage of this resource to help you stay safe and healthy.

— Uber (@Uber) April 30, 2020

In April, Uber said it began shipping masks to drivers and delivery workers, as well as disinfectant spray. 

Robyn Gershon, a New York University epidemiology professor, noted that the coronavirus can spread easily in close contact, such as in a vehicle, so “absolutely positively everyone should be wearing a mask.” And “Nobody should be riding if they’re feeling the least bit sick or are in one of the high-risk groups.” 

In the statement to CNN Business, Uber’s head of safety communications, Andrew Hasbun, said: “We’ll communicate updates directly to users when ready, but in the meantime we continue to urge all riders and drivers to wear masks or face coverings when using Uber.”

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