Lyft offers to sell partitions, PPE to drivers in Phoenix
The next time you hop in a Lyft in Phoenix, you might see a clear barrier between you and your driver meant to help protect against the spread of COVID-19.
But the added protection comes at a price for drivers.
Lyft said it is adding Phoenix to the cities where it offers drivers the option to buy clear dividers to install in their cars to protect against the new coronavirus. The dividers will be for sale on the Lyft Store, which the company has launched to sell its drivers personal protective equipment such as cleaning supplies and face masks at a lower cost.
The company estimates the cost to drivers for the partitions will be less than $50. The drivers have to install the partitions themselves.
How COVID-19 can spread in a car
Purnima Madhivanan, an epidemiologist with the University of Arizona, said the scientific evidence is strong that the coronavirus is spread through respiratory droplets when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes, talks or sings.
So, she said, a Plexiglass or plastic screen between driver and passengers is a way to reduce the risk of infection but it won’t eliminate it.
“Your risk is not zero and that is what people need to be aware of,” Madhivanan said.
The plastic divider might block droplets, Madhivanan said, but in the confined environment of a car there is a secondary risk from recirculated air from the air conditioning system.
“We haven’t quantified that risk, but we hypothesize that not recirculating airflow and increasing circulation of outdoor air with open windows may minimize risk,” she said.
Other ways drivers can reduce this risk of exposure include:
Make sure the driver and passengers wear masks.
Don’t select “recirculate air” in the
Customers cannot yet select a Lyft with the divider. Lyft launched the initiative with certain “highly active drivers” in Atlanta, Baltimore and Denver this month before expanding to include Phoenix and nine other markets this week. Lyft hopes that by the end of July, more than 16,000 drivers will have access to purchasing the PPE.
iivehicle. Open the vent so outside flows in.
Crack the windows to allow more outside air to get in.
Given that the temperature in Arizona is in the triple digits, drivers may be
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Customers cannot yet select a Lyft with the divider. Lyft launched the initiative with certain “highly active drivers” in Atlanta, Baltimore and Denver this month before expanding to include Phoenix and nine other markets this week.
Lyft hopes that by the end of July, more than 16,000 drivers will have access to purchasing the PPE.
Eventually, the program aims to give 60,000 drivers in 30 regions access to purchasing dividers.
In addition to offering to sell PPE to its drivers, Lyft has implemented some safety guidelines. Lyft’s Health and Safety program requires riders and drivers to self-certify that they are symptom-free and wear masks during the ride.