Ridesharing has become popular these days. Rideshare mobile applications include Uber, Lift, Bolt, and Taxify. They’re smartphone applications and are easily accessible when you need to get somewhere quickly. Ridesharing is simple to access and has multiple payment options, making most people choose ridesharing over taxis and buses.
Though, it’s not advisable to use ridesharing during this time when Covid-19 is a major pandemic. There are some cases where you can’t avoid using rideshares. In such cases, you need to follow some guidelines to make the ridesharing safe. Here are some guidelines when ridesharing during the Covid pandemic period.
Clean and Disinfect
When using rideshare, you have to disinfect frequently to prevent yourself from getting Covid 19. The vehicle has carried several other people, and you cannot tell if one of them had coronavirus.
You can carry alcohol-based wipes and a disposable trash bag with you. Wipe the surface to kill any virus if present. Properly dispose of the used wipes in your disposable trash bag.
Disinfecting does not apply to the passenger only but also to the driver. If you are a driver, disinfect the frequently touched surfaces at the beginning and the end of each trip. It’ll protect you and your passengers from contracting coronavirus. If the surfaces are visibly dirty, opt to clean with water and soap before disinfecting.
Alternatively, you can offer alcohol-based hand sanitizer to passengers before they board the vehicle. Doing this would help kill the coronavirus if they contacted it on their way to the car. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently make ridesharing safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Limit Contact
Ridesharing will be safe during the Covid-19 pandemic if you limit your contact between passengers and drivers. You would never tell if someone has coronavirus by looking at them. At times, someone might have coronavirus but lack the signs and symptoms. That is why it would be best if you limit contact when sharing a ride.
To limit contacts, as a driver, you will have to avoid carrying excess passengers. Taking a limited number of passengers enables them to maintain social distance. It would be safer for passengers to use the back seat. Also, when conversing, keep at least 1.5 meters distance from each other.
Additionally, passengers should handle their luggage during pickups and drop-offs. If possible, partition the vehicle so that the distance between passengers is at least 1.5 meters. As the driver, use the car’s airs vents to maintain the fresh air circulation in the vehicle.
Other than that, avoid offering passengers items like magazines and water bottles. Doing this will protect both the driver and the passengers. Besides being safe from coronavirus when ridesharing, it would help if you were also safe from accidents. When you are injured in an accident while ridesharing, consider getting help from a rideshare accident lawyer for advice.
Wear A Face Mask
Wearing face masks applies to everyone who goes out to the public. Ridesharing means coming into contact with other people. The face mask protects you and the people around you. When using rideshare, you might just be you and the driver. However, this does not make it safe for you to travel without your face mask.
A face mask is a requirement in planes, buses, rideshares, and any other form of public transportation. The best face mask to use is the surgical mask or the respiratory mask.
If you have the coronavirus and are unaware, the face mask will prevent you from spreading it to others. If you are sick and aware, it would be best to stay at home because face masks are not 100% effective in preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Coronavirus is a respiratory illness. It causes shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, coughing, fever, chills, and loss of taste and smell. The virus spreads from person to person through air droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
You can protect yourself from getting Covid-19 by maintaining social distance. When ridesharing, make your ride safe by following all the preventive measures given to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and sanitizing regularly.