Uber has announced mandatory mask wearing for drivers and users. The platform will demand the use of the equipment in the United States, Latin America, Canada and India from May 18th.

The company had previously stated that the requirement would be limited to the United States and that in other markets the obligation of face coverings would only follow local regulations.

According to the company, an update in its app will verify mask wearing by drivers and passengers via selfies. Upon checking, Uber will ask the driver to take a selfie via app before starting the trip. The app checks the image and, if the driver is without a mask, it will not continue the trip.

“We will maintain this policy through the end of June, and then reassess it based on local public health needs. We’ve designed this feature to adapt to changing public health guidances and regulations as the pandemic evolves”, said Uber, in a press statement.

Uber will also demand that riders, before every trip, confirm that they’ve taken precautions like wearing a face cover and washed or sanitized their hands. They must also agree to sit in the back seat and open windows for ventilation. Another change is that Uber reduced the maximum suggested number of passengers for an UberX ride to 3 from 4.