San Francisco, Sep 1 (AP) Mask slackers will now have to provide photographic proof they're wearing a face covering before boarding an Uber.

The San Francisco-based company unveiled a new policy Tuesday stipulating that if a driver reports to Uber that a rider wasn't wearing a mask, the rider will have to take a selfie with one strapped on the next time they summon a driver on the world's largest ride-hailing service.

Also Read | US Presidential Elections 2020 Opinion Poll: Donald Trump Backed by 48% Voters, Will Defeat Joe Biden, Predicts DI Survey.

The mask verification rules expand upon a similar requirement that Uber imposed on its drivers in May to help reassure passengers worried about being exposed to the novel coronavirus that has upended society.

Now, Uber believes it's time to help make its drivers feel safer, too.

Also Read | UK PM Boris Johnson Faces Rocky Autumn Over Brexit and COVID-19 Pandemic As British Lawmakers Return to Parliament.

The requirement will roll out in the U.S. and Canada later this month before coming to other parts of the world.

The additional safety measures are part of Uber's ongoing efforts to rebuild a service that has seen ridership plunge this year.

People have been seeking to minimize the chances of becoming sick and and also have had fewer reasons to go anywhere, with offices, bars, restaurants and nightclubs closed through much of the U.S. and other parts of the world.

The adverse conditions caused the number of trips on Uber during its most recent quarter to plunge by 56% from the previous year. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)