Uber, Lyft end mask mandates for riders, drivers as COVID cases fall

April 19 (Reuters) – Uber Technologies (UBER.N) and Lyft Inc (LYFT.O) have scrapped face mask mandates for their riders and drivers in the United States, the ride-hailing companies said on Tuesday, as COVID cases have fallen sharply from their Januray peak.

Lyft, which also ended requirements for the vehicle windows to be kept open and for the front seat to empty, said health safety reasons will no longer appear under cancellation options on its app.

Uber added that the CDC recommends wearing a mask if a person has certain high-risk factors or if transmission levels are high in their area. The company in November resumed shared rides, which had been suspended due to rising COVID cases. read more

The Biden administration on Monday said it would no longer enforce a U.S. mask mandate on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida ruled that the 14-month-old directive was unlawful.

Major carriers including American Airlines (AAL.O), United Airlines (UAL.O) and Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) relaxed curbs following the announcement. read more

Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi