What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the coronavirus which was discovered during the outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The impacts of COVID-19 are not fully known, and symptoms range from very mild to life-threatening.

Known Facts:

Higher death rate than the seasonal flu.
At-risk groups for developing serious complications include people aged 65+ and those with underlying medical conditions. Around 1 out of every 6 people who get COVID-19 become seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing. Most people (80%) with COVID-19 will feel like they have a bad cold or the flu. Some people will require hospitalization. Some people will have mild or no symptoms.
No vaccine and no approved therapeutics to slow the course of its toll on the human body are available.
Transmission is most likely to occur when people are in close contact, or in poor ventilated areas - even if infected people display no symptoms.
It takes around five days for COVID-19 infection to develop symptoms. During this time the virus can already be transmitted.
Symptoms may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

How does the virus spread?

The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 6 feet away from a person who is sick, wear a face covering, and keep a good hand washing routine.

The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true in the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.

Should I wear a mask?

Yes, face coverings should be worn in public places, including rideshares. This is especially important when social distancing cannot be easily implemented, or in closed spaces with bad ventilation. Disposable face masks can only be used once, and used PPE should never be shared with others.

For everyone’s safety, it is important for passengers and drivers to wear face coverings throughout the duration of the ride. Riders will be reminded to use face coverings. Riders and drivers have the right to cancel any ride without penalty if the other party does not wear a mask.

What should I do to prevent the virus from spreading?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following measures:

Wash your hands frequently
Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to kill viruses that may be on your hands. When soap and water are not available, thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based (60% or more) hand sanitizer.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 6 feet distance between yourself and anyone who is not a part of your household
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and make you sick.
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash or sanitize your hands. Droplets spread the virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you.
Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical care early to reduce the risk of developing a more severe infection and be sure to share your recent travel history with your healthcare provider.

Best practices for Wingz Drivers

All Wingz drivers have followed a Health & Safety training and received a PPE kit to keep their passengers and themselves safe and to help avoid spreading the virus.

Please keep in mind that both you and your passenger(s) can transmit the virus if one of you was infected previously, even if you don't have severe symptoms. This situation creates stress, which is best eliminated by taking the recommended measures and by communicating openly about the security procedures you follow and recommend.

In addition to the general recommendations listed here, we recommend to follow a few additional procedures to protect yourself and your riders:

Sanitize high-touch areas of your vehicle
Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes shall be readily available in your vehicle at all times. After each ride, wipe vehicle parts that riders are in contact with using disinfectant wipes.
- Seats
- Interior and exterior car door handle
- Power Window switches
- Armrests
- Windows
- Phone chargers
When greeting your rider
- Keep the recommended 6-feet distance and avoid shaking hands or any other physical contact.
- Ask that passengers keep the front seat empty
- Suggest your rider to use hand sanitizer before entering the vehicle and explain what precautions you are using to protect both the rider and yourself from being infected.
Luggage handling
- Avoid handling the passenger’s luggage if possible. If the passenger needs assistance with his/her luggage make sure to sanitize hands before and after handling.

Information Sources

For more information, please visit these reference websites that are updated constantly

News Articles and Analysis

Cleaning and Disinfection

Click here to view the CDC's recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting your vehicle.

PPE Information

Click here to view the CDC's directions for utilizing personal protective equipment.