Seating next to the driver is also available Uber, a ride-hailing service, also ‘shared’ the move to lift the mandatory wearing of masks in the United States. The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 19th that Uber has decided to end the requirement for drivers and passengers to wear masks. Uber has also decided to end measures to prevent passengers from riding in the seat next to the driver. However, in a statement, Uber said, “Many people think it is safe to wear a mask for quarantine purposes. Please respect other people’s choices.” Uber made it compulsory for passengers to wear a mask and use the back seat of a car immediately after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). It is also mandatory for drivers to wear masks. The decision was taken in consideration of the Florida federal court’s ruling the day before that the U.S. government’s decision to extend the mandatory wearing of masks when using public transportation such as buses and planes was invalidated. After the ruling, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) decided not to make it compulsory for passengers using public transportation to wear masks, and airlines such as United Airlines and Alaska Airlines also decided to leave it to passengers’ choice. However, Uber emphasized that the lifting of the mandatory mask applies only to the United States, and that Uber users from other countries must follow local quarantine regulations. In the UK and the Netherlands, the compulsory mask measures have already ended. Previously, the UK changed the wearing of masks voluntarily in public transportation facilities such as subways and buses in February of this year, and France and Germany respectively abolished the mandatory wearing of masks in public facilities last month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"