Uber, Lyft to Drop Mask Requirement — Will It be for Both Drivers and Passengers?

Both Uber and Lyft are rescinding their mask requirements for drivers and passengers alike, the ride-haling companies announced on Tuesday.

In a report of Gizmodo, Uber wrote in an email to users "The CDC order requiring masks while using rideshare platforms such as Uber is no longer in effect, and we've revised our covid-19 mask and front-seat policies accordingly."

Uber has also cancelled its "no-front-seat" policy that required riders to sit in the back of the car. The said policy aims to protect drivers, however if there's no more seats left in the back, it allows users to use the front seat.

On the other hand, Lyft announced that it would also halt its mask and front seat policies, saying in a statement "We know that everyone has different comfort levels, and anyone who wants to continue wearing a mask is encouraged to do so. As always, drivers or riders can decline to accept or cancel any ride they don't wish to take," as per Gizmodo.

Uber, Lyft Dropped Mask Use After CDC Mandate

Uber and Lyft made their announcement to drop the use mask for both drivers and passengers on April 19, the day after a federal judge in Florida nullified the CDC's mask mandate on planes and trains.

Uber said in its statement that the CDC still recommends mask wearing "if you have certain personal risk factors and/or high transmission levels in your area." Lyft offered the same instruction.

Uber and Lyft both maintain their stance that if a user feels uncomfortable, he can always cancel his trip. But they did not offer any advice on what users should do if they have to reject a ride. After a certain amount of time, cancelling a ride in Uber or Lyft incurs a fee.

Organization of Gig Workers Criticizes Uber, Lyft Move

Members of Gig Workers Rising, an organization of gig workers advocating for good pay and safe working conditions in the industry is not happy with Uber and Lyft decision to rescind the mask requirement.

According a report of CBS, the group said that the new policy could hurt their health -- and their driver ratings.

As per the CBS report, San Francisco Bay Area rideshare driver and Gig Workers Rising organizer Rondu Gfantt said in a statement "Uber and Lyft are playing politics with our lives. I don't like the idea of people getting in my car without a mask on. It's been raining here in the Bay Area, so the windows are up and people are coughing."

"We're in a confined space and if a rider refuses to wear a mask and we ask them to leave the car, we're at risk of getting a bad review and possibly deactivated," the rideshare driver added.

The CBS report also quoted another rideshare driver and Gig Workers Rising member Jason Munderloh, who said "Lyft and Uber should have consulted their drivers before dropping mask rules."

Munderloh added that drivers should still be permitted to ask that riders cover their faces during trips.