Didi Chuxing puts plastic dividers in cars to help stop the spread of coronavirus

The ride-hailing giant plans to invest about US$14.3 million in the nationwide programme

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Didi Chuxing is rolling out a programme to install protective plastic dividers between the passenger and driver seats in millions of cars on its ride-hailing platform. Photo: Handout

Published: 6:00am, 20 Feb 2020Updated: 1:19pm, 20 Feb 2020

Didi Chuxing, China’s largest ride-hailing services provider, is ramping up efforts to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus, with a nationwide programme to install protective dividers between the driver and passenger seats in cars.

Beijing-based Didi plans to invest about US$100 million yuan (US$14.3 million) in this safety measure, which involves installing protective plastic sheets that are expected to prevent droplet transmission of the Covid-19 disease, according to the company’s statement on Wednesday.

“Didi is implementing this and other anti-coronavirus initiatives, as public health officials call on citizens to use public transportation with caution,” the company said. “This measure is popular among drivers and riders.”

Despite aversion to using mass public transport such as buses and trains at the present time, even ride-hailing is facing new problems after reports earlier this month of multiple drivers being diagnosed with coronavirus, clouding prospects for an industry already hit hard by government-imposed travel restrictions across the country.

A staff member of Didi Chuxing teaches drivers how to use a spray bottle to disinfect their cars in Nanjing, in eastern China's Jiangsu province, on February 14. Photo: Xinhua

With guidance from medical professionals, Didi initially rolled out its protective divider programme in a number of cities, including the southern coastal city of Shenzhen, Taiyuan in northern Shanxi province and in Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei province and epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

Didi drivers can choose to install the protective screens in selected locations or on their own using the instructions provided.