Food delivery firms start contactless services during pandemic

An Uber Eats delivery man standing by the Spanish Steps at a deserted Piazza di Spagna in central Rome on March 12, 2020. A letter from unionised delivery staff in Milan, Rome, Naples and Bologna on March 12 called for a strike because it said they lacked adequate rights to protect themselves given the health risk.— AFP

The increase in quarantined customers has forced food delivery companies to balance a potential boom in orders alongside the risk of spreading sickness to both customers and drivers.

Both Uber Technologies Inc and Deliveroo have said they’re setting aside funds to compensate drivers who might fall ill or are forced to be quarantined.