Uber Canada drops mask requirement for drivers and riders as of April 22
Uber Canada says face masks will no longer be required for drivers and passengers as of Friday April 22.
This change in policy does not apply to Quebec.
In accordance with provincial public health guidelines, masks will no longer be required when using Uber in Canada (except Quebec) effective this Friday, April 22," an Uber Canada spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.
But the ride-sharing company says it still recommends donning a face mask.
However, as per Health Canada's advice, we still strongly recommend wearing a mask depending on personal risk factors and infection rates in your area," the statement said.
Drivers will have the right to require passengers to wear masks and can cancel trips if the passenger refuses, according to Uber Canada. Similarly, if the passenger doesn't wish to wear a mask, they can cancel a trip according to Uber's usual policies.
Lyft Canada, one of the main competitors to Uber, seems to be keeping its mask mandate for now.
For the time being, our in-ride health safety guidelines - including the mask requirement - remain in effect throughout Canada," said Lyft spokesperson Gabi Condarco in an emailed statement.
Meanwhile, Beck Taxi in Toronto tweeted that they have not changed their policy, likening the inside of a vehicle to a high-risk setting."
If you're in a Beck, drivers and riders are still required to wear a mask. The inside of a vehicle is a high-risk setting, so until further notice, keep your masks on," the taxi company said.
The news comes a day after a Florida judge ruled mask requirements on transit in the U.S. as unlawful. That means masks became optional by U.S. airlines for the first time since the U.S. government put them in place in February 2021. As Star reporter Alex McKeen explains, that change south of the border has no impact on Canadian airlines but can affect Canadians travelling to the U.S.
Both Uber and Lyft in the U.S. earlier announced online Tuesday that masks are optional while riding or driving in their vehicles, according to The Associated Press.
With a file by The Associated Press
Lloyd Quansah is a reporter for the Star's radio room based in Toronto. Reach Lloyd via email: lquansah@thestar.ca