Uber is planning to implement a new policy in the coming weeks. Drivers in the US and certain countries must wear face masks or coverings. The company also is developing technology to detect whether its drivers are wearing face coverings before they begin accepting passenger trips.

Uber is shipping safety supplies to its drivers providing’essential trips’. The spokesperson said Uber is encouraging drivers to stay home if they can.

‘we’ll communicate updates directly to users when ready, but in the meantime, we continue to urge all riders and drivers to wear masks or face coverings when using Uber’.

Uber already requires drivers to take occasional selfies as part of its real-time ID check feature, which it introduced in 2016.

An uptick in its Uber eating food delivery business has not made up for the losses on the ride-hailing side. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told investors in March that it has seen gross bookings in most major cities where it operates decline by as much as 70 percent.