As more than 90,000 Coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide in the last two months, Uber and Lyft have started giving their contracted drivers advice on how to prevent the potential spread.
Uber, like all the other tech companies around the world, has restricted employees from traveling to countries like China, northern Italy, Iran, and South Korea as a precaution.
On Friday, the ride-hailing company sent its drivers a link to a set of guidelines via a push notification. The guideline details the preventive measures they need to take, which are basically the points outlined by the World Health Organization.
Uber has urged its drivers to stay at home in case they feel sick out of any “mild illness, respiratory symptoms,” including fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Where spreading awareness amongst employees is important, Uber is getting a lot of criticism for not accommodating their employees enough.
The Company has neither provided any required cleaning supplies, nor will it accommodate drivers taking a sick day. Most of the drivers cannot afford to take a day off without paid sick leaves or proper healthcare options. The drivers who rely on ride-sharing as their main source of income cannot take an unpaid day off.
Uber said:
We have formed a dedicated global team of Uber operations, security and safety executives, guided by the advice of a consulting public health expert, to respond as needed in each market where we operate around the world. We remain in close contact with local public health organizations and will continue to follow their recommendations.
We are always working to help ensure the safety of our employees and everyone on the Uber platform, and we continue to be concerned by the ongoing spread of coronavirus.
Uber has already suspended hundreds of accounts in Mexico after the drivers allegedly drove with people who may have had contact with the virus.
