Uber Makes Wearing Face Masks Mandatory for Drivers and Riders

Starting May 18th, all Uber drivers, riders, and delivery personnel will be required to wear face masks before they can start using the service. According to Uber’s new safety checklist, users in the US, Canada, India and parts of Europe and Latin America will need to submit a selfie to prove they’re wearing a face mask.

Uber says its face mask detection feature has been designed to adapt to changing public health guidance and regulations as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. The checklist also notes that before every trip, riders must confirm that they’ve taken precautions like wearing a face cover and washing or sanitizing their hands.

All Uber riders will be required to agree to sit in the back seat and open windows for ventilation. The company is also reducing the maximum suggested number of passengers for an UberX ride to 3 from 4.

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.

We’ve already begun sharing this information with users globally and we’ll now leverage the tips to educate riders, drivers, delivery people, and restaurants when we learn of unsafe behavior. We’ve also included this information in COVID-19 safety educational videos.

Uber plans to maintain the policy until the end of June after which it will reassess the situation.