Uber requires all drivers and passengers to wear masks

KSTP
This Wednesday, June 21, 2017, file photo shows the building that houses the headquarters of Uber, in San Francisco. Uber acknowledged more than 3,000 sexual assaults occurred during U.S. Uber rides in 2018, the company said in a long-awaited safety report.[AP/ Eric Risberg]

Uber will be making some significant changes for riders, drivers and delivery people start May 18.

According to a release, Uber requires all users to wear a mask or face cover starting May 18.

Some more main changes that riders, drivers, and delivery people will see starting on Monday are:

  • Go Online Checklists: Riders and drivers will have to confirm that they have taken certain steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The specific steps are covered in the blog.
  • Mask Verification: Before drivers can start accepting trips, they will be required to take a selfie with a mask on. Our new technology will verify that the driver is wearing a mask or face covering and let the rider know when the driver is en route.
  • Accountability for all: Uber is adding new options for feedback, including if a rider or driver is not wearing a mask or face cover. Drivers and riders are being encouraged to cancel trips if they don’t feel safe, including if a user is not wearing a mask or face cover. In addition, riders, drivers, and delivery people who repeatedly violate the policy risk losing access to the app.
  • New Limits for UberX and UberXL: To allow for more distance in the car, we are advising riders to no longer sit in the front seat. This means every ride with Uber will have one less passenger seat available. For example, rides with UberX can have a maximum of 3 passengers and only in the back seats.
  • Rideshare Health Safety Education: Working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), Uber have compiled safety tips and recommendations geared explicitly toward ridesharing and food delivery. These tips will be used to educate riders and drivers globally. See a video here.

For more information on the new changes, click here.