Uber drivers, riders required to wear face coverings as part of new COVID-19 safety tips

All Uber drivers and passengers will be required to wear a mask or face covering effective Monday, May 18 as part of the rideshare company's new COVID-19 related safety tips.

Uber unveiled several new features related to COVID-19 during its virtual announcement on Wednesday that will change rideshare experiences.

Riders and drivers will see the following changes effective on Monday:

• Go Online Checklists: Riders and drivers will have to confirm that they have taken certain steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
• Mask Verification: Before drivers are able to start accepting trips, they will be asked to take a selfie with a mask on. Our new technology will verify the driver is wearing a mask or face covering and let the rider know when the driver is en route.
• Accountability for all: We are 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.
• 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), we have compiled safety tips and recommendations specifically geared toward ridesharing and food delivery. These tips will be used to educate riders and drivers globally. See a video here.

Uber's virtual announcement can be viewed in its blog post here.