'No mask. No ride': Uber will require drivers and passengers to wear face masks indefinitely

Dalvin Brown, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Uber is extending its mask requirement indefinitely throughout the U.S. and Canada as coronavirus cases continue to rise across several states.

The company previously said that both drivers and riders are required to wear masks during trips through June. On Wednesday, the company said it's extending that rule.

“Extending our 'No Mask, No Ride' policy is the right thing to do," Uber said in a statement. "We want to send a clear message to everyone using Uber that we all have a role to play to keep each other safe.”

The decision was made based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The company also notes the public rise in coronavirus cases. Texas, New Mexico and California are among the states with infections trending upward.

The news comes in tandem with the company's launch of a campaign running on TV, social media and in the app. It's called "No mask. No ride" and depicts drivers and Uber Eats delivery people working during the pandemic.

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Uber also conducted a survey of 600 random Uber and Lyft drivers, finding that Uber drivers feel safer with COVID-19 related safety guidelines in place, the company said. The company added selfie technology for drivers in May that detects whether a driver is wearing a mask before they start a shift.

More than a million drivers have gone through mask detection already, the company said. Drivers have completed more than 100 million trips while wearing masks, a number that would be much higher if Uber Eats trips were included, the company said.

It also sends notifications to riders reminding them to wear a face covering before their driver arrives.

If a driver shows up without a mask on, riders can cancel the trip without penalty. You can also report the issue to Uber via the app.
If a driver shows up without a mask on, riders can cancel the trip without penalty. You can also report the issue to Uber via the app.

Uber's business was hit hard after the pandemic was declared as people urged to stay home didn't need to take as many rides. The company shed swaths of its workforce as a result, and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi waived his base salary through the end of the year.

Even if you haven't taken a trip in months, you're still required to wear a mask.

“For riders who may be taking their first trip since the pandemic began, please know that your driver is required to wear a mask or face cover – and you are too," Uber said.

Lyft also has a mask requirement in all 50 states, and airlines have instituted similar policies to aid in coronavirus prevention efforts.

Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Uber will require face masks for drivers and passengers indefinitely