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New Uber coronavirus measures to require drivers, passengers to wear masks

Click to play video: 'Coronavirus: How to social distance in taxis and rideshare vehicles'
Coronavirus: How to social distance in taxis and rideshare vehicles
Coronavirus: How to social distance in taxis and rideshare vehicles – Mar 24, 2020

Uber Technologies Inc. will require drivers, couriers and passengers to wear masks starting next Monday as part of a new set of measures aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

The San Francisco-based technology giant says drivers won’t be able to pick up customers until they have verified they are wearing a mask via photo-recognition software built into the Uber app.

They will also have to agree to a series of terms promising that they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, have disinfected their vehicle and have washed their hands.

Passengers and drivers will be able to cancel rides if the person operating or entering the vehicle doesn’t wear a mask and if someone removes a mask partway through the trip, and will have an option to notify Uber about the removal when they rate the ride.

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No passengers will be allowed to sit in front seats and no more than three passengers will be allowed in the vehicle for Uber X and XL rides.

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When they book a ride, passengers will be advised to wear a mask, sanitize hands before and after a trip, sit in the back seat and open a window if possible.

Click to play video: 'Alberta taxi company says warm weather, COVID-19 severely reducing business'
Alberta taxi company says warm weather, COVID-19 severely reducing business

Uber Eats couriers will be able to notify Uber about restaurants that are not following physical distancing or have a long wait, and restaurants will be able to tell Uber when a courier is not wearing a mask or following protocol.

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