By The Wall Street Journal: Uber and Lyft drop U.S. mask requirement after judge voids public transportation mandate
Uber Technologies Inc.
UBER,
+5.38%
and Lyft Inc.
LYFT,
+4.80%
are no longer requiring U.S. riders or drivers to wear a mask.
The ride-sharing platforms’ decisions Tuesday come a day after a federal judge scrapped the Biden administration’s Covid-19 mask mandate for public transportation.
“Remember: many people still feel safer wearing a mask because of personal or family health situations, so please be respectful of their preferences,” Uber said in a statement. “And if you ever feel uncomfortable, you can always cancel the trip.”
The company said it will also allow riders to sit in the front passenger seat. It previously required passengers to sit in the back to give drivers more distance during the pandemic.
Lyft adopted similar policies. Masks are now optional, and riders can sit in the front, it said.
An expanded version of this story appears on WSJ.com.
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