(Bloomberg) — Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. will no longer require passengers and drivers in the United States to wear masks, joining a growing number of large transportation providers who are changing their policies.
The easing of ride-sharing giants' regulations comes after US airlines said they would no longer require travelers or employees to cover their faces on domestic and some international flights. A US judge on Monday overturned a federal mandate for passengers to cover their faces.
“Remember: many people still feel safer wearing masks because of personal or family health situations, so be respectful of their preferences,” Uber said in a statement.
Both companies also said they will allow passengers to sit in the front seat of the co-pilot. “While passengers and drivers can always cancel any trip they don't want to take, health safety reasons such as not wearing face masks will no longer appear in the app within the cancellation options,” Lyft said in a blog post.
In the UK, another major Uber market, the company has already relaxed its rules for the use of face coverings in accordance with government guidelines.
The U.S. Transportation Safety Administration and the country's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Monday that companies would no longer be able to force passengers to wear masks on public transportation, although both agencies recommended continuing their use.
Covid restrictions in the US have been relaxed after a decline in case numbers since a high in January caused by the omicron variant. Nearly 1 million Americans have died from covid in the past two years and hundreds more continue to die every day.
Recently, New York City delayed plans to eliminate mandatory wearing of face coverings in schools and day care centers for children under 5, saying that cases of covid-19 are increasing again.
Original Note:
Uber, Lyft Scrap Mask Requirement for U.S Riders and Drivers (2)
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