Uber Will Now Require Face Masks for All Drivers and Riders
Uber is taking steps to protect drivers and riders from COVID-19.
As cities slowly reopen and people start going places again, Uber is updating its policies with safety in mind. Effective May 18, 2020, face covers or masks will be mandatory for everyone riding or driving with Uber.
Uber has allocated $50 million to purchase supplies like masks, disinfectant sprays and wipes, hand sanitizer, and gloves for its drivers. Before a driver or delivery person can work, they will be asked to confirm that they are wearing a mask or face cover by uploading a selfie. This is part of Uber’s new Go Online Checklist, which drivers must complete before each shift.
There is also a similar checklist for Uber riders to complete. Before every trip, riders must confirm that they’ve taken certain precautions like covering their face and washing or sanitizing their hands. Riders must also agree to sit in the back seat and open windows for ventilation.
In the event that drivers or riders feel unsafe (if your driver shows up without a face mask, for example), both drivers and riders may now cancel trips at the last minute without penalty.
(Thanks, Ben!)
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Thank you Uber
Exactly! The least they can do to protect people ā¤
I can hear the crash and burn all the way from over here!
Everyone needs to start looking at the actual science and all the studies that are recently coming out about this. None of this is necessary. Yes, this is a sickness just like the flu and it can be awful BUT that doesn’t mean we continue on the way we are continuing on. Do we shutdown for the flu NO! We believed a communist party that has never had the US in their best interest. All the political leaders are not trying to save face and not listening to the actual science and data at this point if they did they would open us up tomorrow. Even though they keep touting numbers, numbers, numbers, data, data, data. Those numbers and data are already there. Open us up let us live our lives and stop controlling us. We were never meant to come to this earth to be controlled but to have our free agency and now all hell will break lose if the political leaders don’t stop letting all this power go to their head.
Exactly!! Pulmonologist and cardiologist are starting to speak out about how dangerous it is to wear masks long term when they arenāt medically necessary!!
As drs and nurses wear masks all the time.
ā¤
But for a totally different reason. They are protecting themselves against bodily fluids splatter, not germs
Iām a medical provider and Iām wearing a mask to protect myself and others.
Finally a logical comment
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So all the pictures and info we’re getting from China and other countries fighting covid right now, showing everyone that is out of their house wearing a mask, the people are all ‘wrong’ for wearing their masks? Come on……
So, if the news showed everyone wearing a burka, you’d go ahead a put one on to? Just because a lot of people are doing something doesn’t magically make it the right thing to do. I believe we learned that at the age of 5.
Masks do not protect YOU against the virus. But they can somewhat stop you from spreading it. So Uber should really make customers wear masks too. But it’s not about protection…it’s about doing whatever to get people using their services again. Uber ridership is down 70+%. People see a driver with a mask and think…cool, I’ll be safe. Not the case, but they ride and Uber makes $$
There is a vaccine for flu but not yet for this. Mask is for minimizing the spread, especially from asymtomatic/presymtomatic carriers. Why do you think youāre supposed to cover your nose & mouth when you sneeze?
I mean, this is a corporation, they can do what they want. If you don’t like it, don’t use Uber.
I literally disagree with 95% of what you have stated .
When you are a medical provider, know or live with someone at risk and work in those medical tents at any hospital, THEN you can have an opinion! COVID-19 is NOT a joke!!!
So late to the party.
Wrong site for politics. If you disagree with Uber’s policy, simply avoid Uber. Thank you, Hip2Save, for keeping us informed. We appreciate it.
I was thinking the exact same thing.
I agree. I wish people would leave their political opinions off this site. It wastes the admin’s time having to police everyone when they could be finding more awesome deals for us!! (Sorry you have to put up with people not using common sense, admins)
They should stop posting political topics if they don’t want political comments. Uber’s policies have nothing to do with deals and couponing. Problem solved.
Amber, you are spot on! I love this site- but am checking my H2S App less and less because of all the quasi-political posts.
I don’t see how a post informing us of a new policy has anything to do with politics. It’s the people in the comments that make it political.
Agree. Don’t understand why there is a COVID update running here.
Amber, agree… also tired of the āGo go go!ā Sanitizer. Or āgo go go!ā toilet paper. Move along, H2S! š
I actually think the toilet paper posts are beneficial. They aren’t promoting hoarding or anything like that. They are posting for the people like me that last purchased tp in February. I have been unable to find ANY in my area. Thanks to Hip2Save, I now have tp coming to my doorstep.
Yes, it’s another company making a knee-jerk, uneducated decision. But let’s be honest….companies like Uber, Costco, etc aren’t doing masks for “health” reasons. The are doing it for financial reasons. They need to make customers comfortable so they will start riding and coming into their stores again. Right or wrong, masks make some customers feel more comfortable. And that means they will spend more.
Sounds about right.
I think youāre right about their motivation.
Thatās part of the reason Iām avoiding companies who require a face covering or mask. I have supplies on hand to make a gauzy face covering in case I HAVE to go somewhere (like the DMV to renew my license) that requires it but generally Iām giving my support to businesses that do not have unnecessarily strict, oppressive policies in place on their customers. I have no problem with a company that wants to encourage or recommend face coverings but I will not be made to feel like a rule breaker for breathing freely.
Maybe Uber could offer a specific service for drivers and customers who want a masked, sanitized experience. Donāt they already have a distinct Uber Black variation for higher end vehicles?
Exactly! Before the mask rule our super busy Costco barely had any customers inside, and no lines outside?! These big companies only care about $$$, also come up with these rules because they donāt want to be sued later by employees/customers.
Interesting – thanks! I shared with my boss – he Uber’s a lot.
Am I the only one who thinks that sounds unsafe but for another reason? Always has been scary to get in a vehicle with a complete stranger. Now a masked stranger?!
Cindy, I concur.
As a doctor, who has lost a loved one to Covid , I am always disheartened to see the controversy regarding the CDCs recommendations to wear a mask and keep you (and your family) safe. We, healthcare workers, will take care of you regardless of if you put yourself at high risk (no mask in crowded public places) or not. But we thank all the people who abide by the recommendations.
I am also in healthcare. I wear a mask and goggles, 12 hours a day, at work. I do this to protect other people. I work in a medical facility, I am a great risk for exposure. When I am out in public, I wear a mask to protect other people. Itās really frustrating to hear everyone complaining about wearing a mask. I will continue to wear my mask, to protect other people.
šš»šš»šš»šš» This may actually be in response to a complaint I made to Uber. I have an respiratory autoimmune disorder and, catch-22, I *must* break quarantine to get my medication. I had to call an Uber so I chose a driver who requested passengers wear a mask. It was a 20 minute wait time for any driver. Surprisingly, when the driver arrived, he acted like I was wearing āthe mark of the beastā and told me āyou donāt know how Uber worksā when I requested to go through the pharmacy Drive thru. Iām an Uber gold member. I know how it works. I fully expected to tip extra, anyway. I appreciate my service community. But in this instance, I had to tell him I would pay him because I was terrified to be left at the pharmacy for another 20 minutes, alone. I reported the incidence to Uber and didnāt blame the driver but I requested minimal safety for both drivers and customers. I donāt feel itās too much to ask. I look at the numbers daily. John Hopkins reported approx 60 cases in my area for nearly a month. (We shut down early). Now itās jumping 10x per day except for deaths. So, by all means, āletusoutofthisā you are free to go!!! Youāre also free to go to therapy. This is a tough time for us all. Those with ears to hear, speak up!!! Our voices matter too!!!